The Atlanta Lawyer October/November 2019 | Page 16

As we put plans in place to maintain our quality of life as we age, we should also be making plans to protect our resources and our loved ones. But what happens if it is someone else who needs the protection? How can we prepare for the illness or incapacity of an adult family member? Careful estate planning and honest communication can help reduce stress on family members and help ensure that you are equipped as a caretaker. Having Conversations Your Family Members with If you have been trying to find the right time and place to talk to your parents about their estate plans, you may want to consider bringing the topic up during the holidays. The holiday season provides a great opportunity to discuss estate planning and preparedness, because families are gathered together, in one place, and they are typically not as distracted by work or other day-to-day obligations. With Thanksgiving and the holiday season right around the corner, now is the perfect time to start planning for this important discussion. While it may seem awkward to initiate this kind of conversation, it is important to determine 16 October/November 2019 Preparing for the Role of Caregiver . Steps to protect your family’s future needs. SARAH SIEDENTOPF Siedentopf Law [email protected] whether or not your parents have a plan in place for their assets and their own health and medical care. The goal of the discussion is not to talk about who is inheriting what – it is to determine whether your parents have carefully considered what they want to happen with their estate. You also want to make sure that they have appropriately memorialized those wishes in such documents as a will, power of attorney, and an advance directive for health care. Knowing that your family members have an estate plan in place can save stress in an emergency. Revisit the Topic, If Needed If you find that your parents do not have their estate planning done, or that their documents are not up to date – do not be afraid to keep bringing up the topic or offer to help them find an attorney. Contemplating your final wishes can be uncomfortable, and many people tend to put their estate planning off. Make Sure You Know Where the Important Documents are Kept, and What They Contain Most people have a surplus of information (financial, medical, and legal) in multiple formats and in multiple places. You want to locate all of the important documents or files, consolidate them, and put them in order. • Financial Documents. Look for account statements, beneficiary designations (with contact information), tax returns, and recurring bills.