Plan How To Best Distribute Items To Family And Friends

One of the greatest gifts you can give your family is detailed information about how to distribute your property upon your death. It can be a daunting task for surviving loved ones to take care of things once you have passed away. The more information you can provide in advance, the better. You may wish to leave some decisions to their discretion but leave detailed directions for certain items. The specifics are up to you, but getting a blueprint from you will help your loved ones get through the process of losing you. It may be uncomfortable to discuss these types of issues, but doing so spares your loved ones the burden of having to make difficult decisions during a time of mourning. 

Easing the Burden on Your Loved Ones By Discussing Property Distribution in Advance 

Tell your family in advance how your assets should be distributed. Consider writing down who should receive heirlooms and special items such as jewelry, photographs, fine china, furniture, and keepsakes. It is also helpful to choose some charities in advance so that your family can donate items on your behalf. For example, you may want to tell your family to take any furniture that they need or want for themselves and then donate anything that is left over. 

Let your family know the “whys” behind your decisions.  If you have chosen to leave certain items to specific people, let them know why. For example, if you are giving a piece of jewelry to your granddaughter, you may want to tell her that it was your mother’s and that you would like her to have it in order to keep the family tradition alive. 

If you have a trust, will, or other estate planning instruments in place, make sure your family knows about them and where to find the documents. Do not forget about digital information your family will need like passwords, user names, and pin numbers. Keep this information in a safe place that only your family knows about so they can easily access it when the time comes. 

Making decisions about property distribution can be difficult, but it is a gift to your loved ones to have this information in advance. It will help them immensely during a difficult time.

Call us for Help Creating Your Estate Plans 

Planning for the distribution of assets upon your death and discussing your wishes with loved ones can save them significant stress and worrying when you pass away. The Naperville estate planning lawyers at the Gierach Law Firm can help you build a personalized estate plan. Call our office at 630-228-9413 and set up a confidential consultation.

Source:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/riankadorsainvil/2020/12/31/starting-estate-planning-conversations-with-family/