Estate Planning

The holidays are a natural time to plan.

Q: Should I talk to my family about my estate plan?

A brief, low-pressure conversation often helps — families that understand where documents are, who's responsible, and what your wishes are avoid confusion and conflict later. You don't need to disclose exact figures; sharing the structure and your intentions is usually enough. The holidays, with family together, can be a natural time.

The holidays gather the very people your estate plan is meant to protect. That makes them an unexpectedly good time to think about, and even discuss, your plan.

By Tresp, Day & Associates · November 30, 2021

The short version The holidays are a practical moment for estate planning: family is together, the year is ending, and priorities are top of mind. Use the time to check that you have the essentials in place, confirm your choices for key roles, and, where appropriate, have a gentle conversation with the people your plan affects.

Estate planning is easy to postpone all year, then the holidays arrive and the whole family is in one place. Rather than let the moment pass, it can be a chance to take stock, quietly for yourself, or in conversation with loved ones.

Take stock of the essentials

Confirm you have a funded living trust, current powers of attorney, a healthcare directive, and up-to-date beneficiary designations. If any are missing or years out of date, put a plan in place to address them in the new year.

Revisit your key people

Estate plans name people, a successor trustee, a financial agent, a healthcare agent, guardians for children. Seeing family over the holidays is a good prompt to ask whether those choices still fit.

Consider a conversation

Families that talk about their plans avoid confusion and conflict later. A brief, low-pressure conversation, where things are, who’s responsible, what your wishes are, can be a real gift. Tresp, Day & Associates helps families turn good intentions into a plan in the new year. See our estate planning overview.

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Should I talk to my family about my estate plan?

A brief, low-pressure conversation often helps, families that understand where documents are, who's responsible, and what your wishes are avoid confusion and conflict later. You don't need to disclose exact figures; sharing the structure and your intentions is usually enough. The holidays, with family together, can be a natural time.

This article is general information, not legal or tax advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship?

This article is general information, not legal or tax advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every situation is different and the law changes; consult a qualified attorney about your circumstances.

This website is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Every situation is different; please consult a qualified attorney about your specific circumstances.

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