If you are a baby boomer in North Dakota who has aging or elderly parents, one of the more difficult conversations you may have to have is talking to them about their estate plans and how you are going to deal with the legal matters that arise after they die.
Discussing our own mortality is something many of us are hesitant to do, especially when we are in good health and have no reason to think of such final events.
But ignoring the situation won’t make it go away, and not talking to your parents about their estate planning efforts can cause you serious harm. Here are some tips that might help you get started with the conversation.
The Little Things
You don’t have to begin to talk about estate planning by talking about death. Instead, you can talk about some simpler things that your parents might, one day, need you to manage for them. Organizing important documents, such as mortgage information, car insurance, and even monthly utility bills can be a great way to begin the process. All of these things will have to be dealt with by someone after your parents die, and organizing them so they are in a single place where people can access them can go far.
If the idea of estate planning has completely escaped your elderly parents, you can do a lot by beginning your own estate planning efforts. Talking to your parents about the steps you have taken will also make it much easier for them to begin their own plans.
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