How To Talk To Older Adults About Estate Planning In Tampa
May is National Older Americans Month and focuses on the contributions people over the age of 65 make in our lives and our community. It also raises awareness of the challenges they face and ways in which their loved ones can help.
Estate planning can be a difficult topic to discuss with aging parents or grandparents, but it is one that needs to be addressed. Our Tampa estate planning attorney explains how to bring up this type of discussion and some of the documents older adults should have in place.
Estate Planning For Older Adults
Each May, the Administration for Community Living sponsors Older Americans Month. It aims to raise awareness of the contributions people over 65 make and the issues they face in dealing with aging.
Estate planning is an important topic for people in this age group, and it can impact their overall health, well-being, and assets. The following are common Tampa estate planning documents that older adults should have in place:
- A will: One of the most basic yet important estate planning tools, a will acts as a guide through Hillsborough County Probate Court proceedings. It acts as an inventory of your estate, designates beneficiaries, and determines how property is divided among them.
- Power of attorney: This authorizes someone you trust to attend to bills and other financial matters on your behalf in the event you are incapacitated and unable to address them on your own.
- Advance directives: These dictate your wishes regarding medical emergencies and end-of-life care.
- A trust: This provides important benefits in terms of qualifying for Medicaid, which protects your home or other assets while offsetting any future nursing home or other long-term care costs.
Making Sure Older Loved Ones Have An Estate Plan In Tampa
According to surveys from the American Association of Retired People (AARP), nearly two-thirds of all adults do not have a will or other important estate planning documents in place. If you have an older adult loved one, this is an important topic to bring up.
To ensure these conversations go smoothly and avoid any awkwardness, our Tampa estate planning attorney recommends the following tips:
- Pick a time when there are no other pressing matters to address, such as after a nice dinner;
- Emphasize the importance of having this type of discussion and how it protects your loved ones’ best interests;
- Make a list of any estate planning documents they have already created, their location, and whether they need to be updated;
- Explain how advance directives, powers of attorney, and other documents can clarify your loved one’s wishes and protect their rights while making difficult situations somewhat easier for those they care about.
Request A Consultation With Our Tampa Estate Planning Attorney
At Strategic Counsel Law Group, L.C., we help older adults put important estate planning documents in place. To get the caring support and trusted legal guidance you need, contact our office and request a consultation with our Tampa estate planning attorney today.
Sources:
acl.gov/oam/2024/older-americans-month-2024#:~:text=Every%20May%2C%20the%20Administration%20for,our%20health%20and%20well%2Dbeing.
hillsclerk.com/court-services/probate-guardianship-and-trust
aarp.org/money/investing/info-2023/top-facts-about-writing-a-will.html#:~:text=A%202022%20survey%20by%20Caring,Why%20not%3F
