How to Approach Parents about Estate Planning

If you have a parent over the age of, say, 65, thoughts about their future may have started to creep into your mind. However, because end-of-life planning can be emotional and overwhelming, it’s tempting to put these conversations off—and even more pleasing to avoid them altogether.

Does Anyone Know Where Your Money Is?

Even those who have saved and invested well may not be sharing their financial information with a spouse or loved one. It’s time to do that now.

Who Pays Mortgage When I Pass Away?

One important aspect of estate planning is deciding what will happen to your home after you die. The answer might be fairly cut and dry if the home is fully paid for. If it’s not, though, you’ll need to consider the financial ramifications for your estate and for the person who inherits the home.

What Do I Do with Estate Plan after Divorce?

Major changes in your life—such as marriage, having a baby, moving out of state, or divorce—should prompt a revisit to your current will. It is important to revise your will at these times, in order to ensure that your estate planning is up to date.

What a Will Won’t Accomplish

That last will and testament you have tucked away? It may not be the last word on what happens to your stuff after you are gone. Instead, that legal document’s directives for doling out your wealth may be overruled by other paperwork and relevant laws.

What Is Probate?

The probate process gets a bad reputation, but it’s the reality many families will face. It is a process that can function well for some small estates.

Talk to Parents about Estate Planning without Making It Awkward

Discussing estate planning with your parents is a conversation that can be difficult to have. You might not want to think about the day they are no longer here, or even consider that they might experience a decline in health that severely limits their ability to think clearly or communicate with you.