The holidays may seem like an odd time to discuss estate planning with your families. 

We associate the holidays with (mostly) good times and cheer. For many families, it’s one of the few times a year when everyone can travel and spend quality time together in person. That in-person quality time can make the holidays a good time to discuss important family matters. 

At its core, estate planning is an act of love and support. It’s planning for your and your family’s future to ensure your loved ones have the resources they need to help them navigate an inevitable part of life. It can prevent future legal issues, smooth out transitions, and prevent surprises from occurring after one’s passing. 

While a difficult and delicate topic to discuss, it can also be a gift. 

Despite the importance of estate planning, it can still be an awkward and tricky subject during the holidays. So, let’s go through a few tips and strategies to ease your way through the process. 

Plan what estate planning topics you want to discuss

Estate planning conversations with your family may not be the best time to ad-lib. It can lead to awkward gaps in your talk, missed opportunities, and unproductive conversations.

Instead, consider what estate planning topic you want to discuss with your family, such as trusts or guardian selection for minors. 

Note: How you approach this depends on whether you want to discuss your estate plans or learn more about theirs. In both circumstances, talking about your goals for an estate planning conversation with an attorney can give you insight into helpful talking points and useful questions. 

Choose your time and place thoughtfully

A holiday dinner may not be the best time to discuss estate planning. Look for times when everyone can be together in a calm and private environment. If young children are running around, consider waiting until after bedtime or when they’re engaged in an activity. 

It can be hard to segue into talking about estate plans. Small, practical questions can be a great start, such as asking your parents where they keep important papers and records. From there, you may be able to broach what they have or haven’t planned. 

But it’s also fine—and sometimes easier—to share your desire for a conversation in advance. For example, consider emailing or texting your family before the visit to let them know what you’d like to discuss and when. Setting a time in advance can create some accountability and transparency. 

Be open and compassionate—but set boundaries if necessary

Estate planning can be both logistically and emotionally overwhelming. Whether you’re inquiring about a loved one’s estate planning wishes or sharing yours, approach the subject with empathy and an open mind.

Be clear if you are firm on a topic and have already decided on some issues, such as physician directives or end-of-life care.

Take your time—estate planning can be overwhelming

It may take more than a single conversation to cover all aspects of estate planning, including where you keep critical documents and passwords, to discussing power of attorney, end-of-life care, guardian selection for minors, wills, assets, and trusts. 

While you may not cover everything in one day, use this conversation as a starting point. 

Remember, you don’t need to figure everything out yourself. An estate planning attorney can help you prioritize certain tasks or break down estate planning into manageable processes based on your family’s needs. They can even help facilitate conversations, keeping them productive and focused.

Focus on the well-being of your family

Estate planning is not just about establishing a last will and testament. It’s also about guiding your family towards practical choices supporting their needs. For example, you may want to check if everyone has a life insurance policy or if they have up-to-date beneficiaries for that insurance. 

Every family’s needs are different. Depending on your circumstances, here are some topics you may consider broaching:

• If your family lives in different states or if you’ve recently moved to a new state, discuss how this may impact your estate planning and inheritance taxes.
• If family members have medical histories that might require extra care or attention, it may be important to discuss issues like medical power of attorney.
  
• If you have children under 18 or adult children with special needs, it’s important to regularly review your trusts, documentation, and guardianship plans to protect them.
  
• If you want to reduce estate taxes through gifting assets, discuss this plan with your family to ensure they understand the tax ramifications and ways to minimize unintended financial consequences.
  
• If you decide to designate different asset inheritances for your children, broaching this subject with them and explaining your reasoning can prevent future family rifts, confusion, and disputes.

Get advice from a Texas estate planning lawyer

You don’t have to navigate estate planning alone. An experienced estate planning lawyer, such as the team at the Law Offices of Shann M. Chaudhry, ESQ., can help you plan for your family’s future and provide legal advice based on your unique circumstances. 

If you have questions about estate planning, contact our offices to schedule a consultation. We’re here to help!