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1/15: Why you should talk to family about end-of-life wishes (& how to do it): A 
. At @willfulwills we know the unexpected can happen anytime & it’s good to have s*&t in order before it’s needed. COVID-19 drove that point home & thousands of you rushed to get wills in place.
. At @willfulwills we know the unexpected can happen anytime & it’s good to have s*&t in order before it’s needed. COVID-19 drove that point home & thousands of you rushed to get wills in place.
2/15: No shocker - I’m organized when it comes to estate planning. I have an up-to-date will & POA, & a “When I Die” folder with comprehensive end-of-life wishes (based on this: https://time.com/5640494/why-you-need-to-make-a-when-i-die-file-before-its-too-late/). I’m confident I’ve done the work to reduce the burden on my loved ones.
3/15: BUT here’s the thing: my parents & my husband’s parents are remarried, so I’ll be executor for several estates, handling 12-18 months of estate administration when someone passes. If I’m not the executor, I’ll be organizing/helping with lots of end-of-life celebrations.
4/15: This is what we forget: estate planning isn’t just about getting our own s*&t together, it’s about MAKING SURE WE KNOW OUR LOVED ONES’ WISHES. I hear horror stories every week about people who died without a will, & without sharing their wishes or organizing any paperwork.
5/15: This year Chadwick Boseman & Tony Hsieh died without a will, which hammers home the point that most people are NOT prepared. This was why @kevinoulds started Willful: his uncle passed away without sharing any of these details, and his family was scrambling to find answers.
6/15: We did research with AngusReid in November & found that 66% of Canadians have no clue about the end-of-life wishes of their spouse. TWO-THIRDS of Canadians have no idea what their spouse would want if they passed. Do you? Have you ever discussed it?
7/15: We also found that 42% of Canadians have witnessed a disagreement/argument in their family after a loved one passed away. Almost half of us have seen family strife due to lack of planning, yet 57% of Canadian adults don’t have a will - so you can see why arguments happen.
8/15: We’re unprepared for our own passing, but also woefully unprepared for a loved one passing. This holiday is the perfect time to be THAT PERSON with your family - the one who brings up death. Not as fun as Netflix, but the most important & helpful conversation you ever have.
9/15: But how do you do it without seeming like a Knives Out character waiting for someone to croak for an inheritance?! Here are my tips. 1st, schedule time - whether via Zoom or with your bubble, set aside a dedicated time (ideally separate convos so people can discuss openly.)
10/15: 2nd, focus on legacy & make it clear that this is about reducing the burden on you. This is NOT a conversation about mom and dad’s wills and how much you’re getting when they die - it’s a convo about how you can honour their legacy & ensure you have the key info to do that
11/15: 3rd, have a structured discussion by reviewing a set of key questions. At Willful we partnered with @theaftercommnty to create conversation starter cards - you can use the the list of 23 questions in this post to frame the conversation: https://www.willful.co/learn/how-to-talk-about-wills
12/15: 4th, DOCUMENT THE ANSWERS. You may think that you’ll remember that dad wants his body donated to science & he wants a wake with a signature drink; but your memory of the convo will fade. Take notes on paper or online, or email yourself details. You’ll be thankful you did.
13/15: But Erin, what if my family refuses? 
Here are 10 tips, including sharing your wishes first; or sharing stories about celebs (did you know Prince died without a will?). A tip I used: DO IT OVER WINE (or cannabis - it’s Canada after all!): https://www.willful.co/blog/10-tips-for-talking-about-death-and-estate-planning-this-holiday-season
Here are 10 tips, including sharing your wishes first; or sharing stories about celebs (did you know Prince died without a will?). A tip I used: DO IT OVER WINE (or cannabis - it’s Canada after all!): https://www.willful.co/blog/10-tips-for-talking-about-death-and-estate-planning-this-holiday-season
14/15: You can’t force them, but you can highlight that this is for you, not them; & it will exponentially reduce burden when they pass (& they will - unless they’re living in Tuck Everlasting, it’s a *when* not an *if*). If they refuse, you may want to reconsider being executor.
15/15: Finally if you haven’t haven’t thought about your own wishes, follow this exercise for yourself. My wish for you this holiday is peace of mind. Get your will done, organize your s*&t. Don’t be that person: your family will thank you. More info: https://www.willful.co/learn
