Talking to your kids about your estate plan is not a requirement but it does help with guiding them for the future. It’s also not an easy conversation to have because nobody wants to think about their parents not being there for them anymore. However, just because it’s hard doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. This conversation with them is to help them understand you and your decisions better.

Hard Conversations Matter — Even for Little Kids

It’s definitely not an easy task to explain the topic of estate planning to little ones. That’s why it’s important to keep things simple and easy to understand, especially if they’re at the age where your estate plan is centered around them and their care if you pass. It’s a hard topic that can also lead to scary thoughts for your kids, like: “What if my parents aren’t around anymore?”

These talks are supposed to help them understand that even if you were gone, they’d be safe and cared for and that it will all be alright. So it’s important to keep things light and simple; the less you scare them, the better. It’s also no use to have them dwell on things that might not even happen so it would also be good to establish that the event is unlikely and that your decisions are just to plan for the unexpected.

 

Little Kids and Big Changes

The most important thing in this conversation is to inform your children. I know that big changes are often upsetting to kids and so letting them know how things would go if they go through a big change like your passing might help them feel less unprepared and overwhelmed.

It’s not just a tough topic for them, it’s also a tough conversation for you. All parents want what’s best for their children and the best thing for them would be to always have their parents to guide them through life. That being said, the best way to always be there for them is to plan even for the most unfortunate events. That way, you can always have a guiding hand there for them even if you are no longer able to be there for them. It’s a difficult thing to think about but we can help you through it.

Want to prepare for your children’s future? Call our office today to schedule a one-on-one consultation.