How to Talk to Your Loved Ones About Making a Will

Making a will can be an emotional task, and it’s tempting to put it off as something to deal with another day. But estate planning is important for making sure assets go to the right person and to simplify the work that needs to be done after someone passes.

If you have someone close to you who hasn’t made their will, you might not be sure how to start the conversation. Here are some ways to gently encourage them to get their estate plan in place. And if you’ve been meaning to speak with a professional about estate planning, a Farm Bureau agent is ready to help.

1. Understand Why They’re Hesitant

People may not want to put together a will for a few different reasons:

• They don’t know how to get started.
• They don’t think they have enough money to need a will.
• They’re afraid to make their final wishes known because they think loved ones will disagree.
• They don’t want to think about or talk about passing away.        

2. Open With Your Own Experiences

You’ve made your own will and estate plan, right? If not, get your own affairs in order. Your experience gives you an easy opener for your discussion. You can say something like, “I’ve been going through the process and it made me realize how crucial it is to have a will. How can I help you get started?”

Plus, what you learn about the process by going through it yourself can be valuable in informing the ongoing conversation with your loved ones. 

Sharing your personal experience can also be helpful if you’ve tried to have this conversation in the past and your loved one got defensive or shut down.

3. Recognize That It’s Uncomfortable

Simply acknowledging that these topics can be hard to talk about can go a long way toward making the conversation easier. Make it clear that you want to focus on what your loved one would want in the event of their death. Even if they don’t have much money, they may have wishes they would like carried out.

Remind them that dealing with a tough topic now will save stress and confusion in the future, when difficult decisions might need to be made quickly when emotions are high.

4. Offer Help Based on Their Responses

The conversation can show you ways you can help. Maybe you can research what they need, connect them with a lawyer, help them gather important documents or talk about who they trust.

You may want to take it slowly, but over time, be sure they have all of their estate planning documents in place. That may include a will, healthcare proxy, medical and financial powers of attorney and more.

Get Estate Planning Guidance 

It can be challenging to encourage your loved ones to understand why they need a will, what the purpose of an estate plan is and why estate planning is important. Consider meeting with Farm Bureau for guidance and advice. Our team has insights that can make the process a little easier, so reach out for a consultation today.