When you think about an aging loved one or a loved one who has passed away, you probably don’t give much thought to the material things they’ve left you. Maybe you have a piece of their clothing that you sometimes hold close to your heart or a favorite item of theirs displayed proudly on a shelf. But what you value most about that object likely isn’t its monetary worth but the memories it evokes of your loved one and the time you spent together. You wish you could still hear from them, learn from them, and share memories with them.
As an estate planning attorney, I know the value of planning for what happens to your financial assets. But I also know that there is something even more valuable to pass on to your loved ones than money – your stories, lessons, insights, and values. While we might not be able to pause time, there are things we can do to preserve the precious memories and lessons of the people we love.
That’s why I offer a unique service to my clients called a Family Wealth Legacy Interview to help preserve your unique legacy for future generations. The Family Wealth Legacy process is built into all of our plans, and it’s an opportunity to share your love with the ones you care about most, and if you have aging parents or grandparents, the Family Wealth Legacy Interview is an even more important way to preserve their stories and create a cherished memory of their legacy for years to come.
What to Expect During Your Family Wealth Legacy Interview
If the idea of giving an interview sounds intimidating, don’t worry – the process is an easy conversation, and most of my clients tell me that their Family Wealth Legacy Interview was their favorite part of the estate planning process and a heart-touching experience.
During your Family Wealth Legacy Interview, we’ll ask you a series of helpful questions and prompts that we plan in advance. Or, you can talk freely about whatever you’d like to share with your loved ones. It’s your interview, so I encourage you to be your authentic self and make it your own. We’ll be there the entire time to guide you through the process.
We’ll record your interview on video or audio, either in-person or remotely, depending on your preference. After the interview is completed, we’ll provide you with a digital recording that can be shared with your family members or kept with your estate planning materials as a special memento of your story and your love for your family.
We’ve built this into all of our plans because we find that while everyone says they intend to document stories and write letters to their loved ones, very few people ever actually get around to it.
We also have a recommended videographer who orchestrates the interview with a loved one to preserve your legacy through archival video.
Starting the Conversation with Your Loved Ones
Talking to your aging loved ones about estate planning and the legacy that they’ll leave behind can be difficult or uncomfortable for a lot of people. We all deal with the concept of aging and dying differently, but it’s important to have a conversation about your loved one’s wishes and how much it would mean to you for them to plan ahead.
If you aren’t sure how your loved one will respond to the topic, try saying something like, “I know this might be hard to talk about, but it’s something that's really important to me. If something does happen to you, I want to make sure that we're able to take care of you, and I know that you wouldn't want to leave us with a big mess.”
You could also let your loved one know how much you value them, and how much it would mean to you for them to create a Family Wealth Interview so that you have a recording of them as they are right now before illness or incapacity are even a part of the picture.
By approaching the conversation in a vulnerable way, they’ll likely be more receptive to the idea of planning for their assets and more intentional in how they leave their legacy behind for the ones they care about.
Bringing Families Closer Together
Besides preserving a message for your loved ones, the Family Wealth Legacy Interview is a great time to reconnect with the moments and memories from your life that you might have otherwise forgotten.
In today’s hectic world, it can be hard to live in the moment, but by taking a little time to reflect on where your life has taken you, you’ll remember all that you’ve accomplished and all that you want to share with your loved ones, not just in your Family Wealth Legacy Interview, but every day.
The Importance of Life & Legacy Planning
The Family Wealth Legacy Interview is a wonderful tool for seniors and their families, and I offer it as a complementary service to all of my estate planning clients, young and old. It's part of my comprehensive Life & Legacy Planning process, which goes beyond creating documents and takes a holistic approach to planning for a life you love and a legacy you’re loved ones will cherish forever.
At the core of Life & Legacy Planning is the understanding that your family's most precious wealth is not money, but the memories you make, the values you instill, and the lessons you pass down. By planning for your life and legacy, you can ensure that your family's wealth is preserved and protected for generations to come.
I believe that Life & Legacy Planning is not a one-time event but an ongoing process because it mirrors the ongoing process of your life. By working with an attorney who knows you and has a relationship with you, you make your Life & Legacy Planning as effective as possible and have the opportunity to continue to record your values and wisdom in additional Family Wealth Legacy Interviews as life goes on.
Whether you are growing your family or well into retirement, I work with you to create a plan that evolves over time and adapts to changes in your life and family circumstances. If you want to pass on more than money to the ones you love and leave them with an even greater gift that they will treasure for generations, give me a call. And if you have a senior loved one, contact me today to see how I can help them not only make a plan for their assets but capture the love and memories they share with you.
Contact us today to get started.
This article is a service of Desmond Law, a Personal Family Lawyer® Firm. We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That's why we offer a Family Wealth Planning Session™, during which you will get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before and make all the best choices for the people you love..
The content is sourced from Personal Family Lawyer® for use by Personal Family Lawyer® firms, a source believed to be providing accurate information. This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal, or investment advice. If you are seeking legal advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material.