By Katie Shank
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11 Nov, 2022
If you haven’t talked with your parents about their will, you probably should. I suggest having this conversation before you are scrambling to find a will or power of attorney when you may really need it. Here are four tips on how to have this conversation: Set a Time Make a date with your parents and bring it up then. It's hard to avoid the topic when you've specifically set aside time to discuss it. Ask them to go out for coffee or lunch, or even schedule an activity like a hike or walk in a scenic spot. Not in the neighborhood? Schedule a phone call or zoom chat. You can make it fun by making it a happy hour, or play a virtual game to kick things off. Bring it Up Often, mentioning that you've been considering getting a will or an estate plan for yourself is a great way to break the ice. This topic can be tricky to bring up in conversation naturally, so it's a good idea to just do it on your own, instead of waiting for the perfect time. Listen Make sure to listen to what your parents say about the status of their will and/or estate plan. Since the topic can be delicate, approach it with curiosity. Ask them where the documents are in case you need to find them and the last time they were updated. This should get the conversation moving in the right direction. Thank Them Regardless of whether or not your parents have a will/estate plan in place, thank them for talking with you about it. This topic often makes people uncomfortable. Show your gratitude by thanking them for discussing it and stating how important it is to you to make sure to honor their wishes. Make a mental note to follow up later on if their plan needs to be created or updated. If you want to get your own will, trust and/or estate plan in place, schedule a free consultation with us to get started by hitting the button in the right-hand corner at the top of the page. We'd love to hear from you!