The Summer Family Reunion Estate Plan Talk
Multigenerational vacations are stressful, no matter your age and financial circumstances. As a child, you might not mind the idea of seeing your cousins who live out of state or of swimming in the hotel swimming pool, but deep down, you would rather stay home and play Roblox. It spoils the fun, though, that your parents are always on your case about behaving well, so that the rest of the family will not judge them. As a young or middle-aged adult, all you can think about is how everyone is judging you and how little you could afford the time and money you spent on this vacation. Your job, your appearance, your finances, your marital status, and the behavior of your children, if any, will all be subjects of discussion. For everyone old enough to buy substances that will dull the memories of the reunion before they have a chance to form, family reunions are a reminder of your mortality. As a senior family member, you should be used to this, and you should embrace it. If you can have even a few conversations about your estate plan with a few family members, you do not have to spend the whole year kicking yourself about not doing it last year and trying to summon the courage to do it at the next reunion. For help developing a game plan for talking to your estate plan at an upcoming family gathering, contact a Tampa estate planning lawyer.
Sometimes It’s Easier to Talk About Weighty Subjects When Fun Is Just Around the Corner
Your phone is in your pocket all day long, and you can always call your children and talk about your estate plan, but you never do. A family reunion is the perfect setting for low stakes discussions of your estate plan. When sitting beside the pool with your daughter, you can casually mention that you have long-term care insurance and that your will designates her unmarried sister as personal representative of your estate. She might make a face and change the subject, but she is probably relieved that she will not have to sell your house or take out a home equity loan on hers to pay for your long-term care and that her sister gets stuck with the job of personal representative. If she wants to ask you more questions about your estate plan, she has an opportunity before the whole group gathers for dinner.
Sweeten the Deal With Cash Gifts, Every Year If Necessary
If you are sure that your family will be unwilling to talk about your estate plan, you can focus on the fun part, the cash gifts. Give some family members cash gifts, out of view of the others of course, and talk about how the gift is cash free. Tell them to ask you about your estate plan next year, and there will be another cash gift if they do.
Contact David Toback About Giving Your Estate Plan a Friendly Face
A Central Florida estate planning lawyer can help you begin the conversation with your family about your estate plan. Contact David Toback in Tampa, Florida to set up a consultation.
Source:
17th.flcourts.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/PersonalRepresentativesHandbook_July2008.pdf
