DAL Law Firm: 5 Estate Planning conversations millennials need to have with their parents, part 4
Welcome to part 4 of our 5-part blog series covering estate planning conversations millennials need to have with their parents.
In this 5-part blog series, I’m going to walk through the most important estate planning conversations millennials should have with their parents, including discussions about wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and end-of-life wishes. These conversations can feel uncomfortable, but they are one of the most important steps families can take to protect each other.
As an estate planning attorney, I see firsthand what happens when families are unprepared. Having these conversations now can help ensure your parents’ wishes are respected and can make an incredibly difficult time much easier for everyone involved.
In part 1, we covered the first estate planning conversation, which was whether your parents have a will or trust. If you missed that blog, you can read it here.
In part 2, we covered the second estate planning conversation, which was where your parents keep their original estate planning documents. If you missed that blog, you can read it here.
In part 3, we covered the third estate planning conversation, which was about your parents’ power of attorneys. If you missed that blog, you can read it here.
As the long-term care needs of your parents change, you want to ensure you understand what they want. Today’s blog covers this very issue.
What Are Your Parents’ Wishes for Their Care?
In the previous article in this series, we talked about who will make decisions for your parents if they cannot. But appointing someone to make decisions is only part of the equation. The next important estate planning conversation is about something even more personal.
Why This Conversation Matters
Medical decisions can become incredibly emotional when families don’t know what their loved one would want. Adult children may find themselves asking questions like:
- Would Mom want life support?
- Would Dad prefer to stay at home or move into assisted living?
- What type of medical treatment would they want at the end of life?
Without clear guidance, family members are left trying to guess during an already stressful time.
Having this conversation ahead of time can remove a tremendous amount of uncertainty. Some helpful questions to start the conversation include:
- Is it important for you to stay in your home as long as possible?
- Would you prefer in-home care or assisted living if needed?
- What are your thoughts about end-of-life medical treatment?
These discussions allow your parents to express their values and priorities.
Important Healthcare Documents
Many estate plans include documents designed to communicate these wishes. These may include:
- Advance Healthcare Directive (Living Will) This document outlines a person’s preferences regarding medical treatment if they become unable to communicate their wishes.
- POLST Form: In Washington State, many individuals may elect to complete a POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) form, which provides medical instructions for healthcare providers.
These documents help ensure that medical decisions reflect the individual’s own values and choices.
Why This Conversation Helps Families
I often see families experience tremendous relief when these discussions have already taken place. Instead of feeling uncertain, they can confidently say:
“We know what Mom would have wanted.”
That clarity can make difficult moments much easier to navigate.
The Final Conversation Millennials Should Have With Their Parents
So far in this series we’ve covered:
- Whether your parents have a will or trust?
- Where their estate planning documents are stored?
- Who will make decisions for them?
- What are their wishes are for care?
But there is still one more conversation that you need to have with your parents, and not having this conversation can be the most expensive. Make sure you check back in for part 5 of this series because you won’t want to make this costly mistake.
If you want to learn more about estate planning to have a better general understanding, visit our YouTube channel for all things estate planning, probate, and real estate: https://www.youtube.com/@dallawfirm.
Make sure you stay tuned for our last estate planning conversations millennials need to have with their parents. If you or your parents need help with their estate plan, you can visit us online at www.dallawfirm.com. If you visit our website, make sure you download our free estate planning guide! It covers estate planning options, the process, and pricing.
Contact us:
19803 1st Avenue S.
Suite 200
Normandy Park, WA 98148T (206) 408-8158
F (206) 374-2810
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