We Make Starting Hard Conversations With Your Parents Easy
Start The Conversation About Aging With Your Parents
Starting a conversation with your parents about their estate and end-of-life plans can be challenging, but it’s one of the most crucial discussions you can have. Our “Start the Conversation With Your Parents” facilitation service is here to make this process easier.
How to Start The Conversation About Estate Planning and End-of-Life Tasks With Your Parents
(In Three Easy Steps)
Starting a conversation with your parents about their estate and end-of-life plans can be challenging, but it’s one of the most crucial discussions you can have. Below is a three step process to help you easily start the conversation with your parent(s).
Step One
Use your results from the quiz below to get an understanding of how prepared you are to manage your parent(s) affairs in the event something were to happen to them.
Step Two
Use your results from the quiz above to start the conversation with your parents. Below are three examples of what you can say or text to them to get the conversation started.
“Mom/Dad, I took a quiz about estate planning and I’m surprised by the results. Next time I see you, can we chat?”
“Hey Mom/Dad, I recently completed a quiz on estate planning and found the results quite eye-opening. When are you free to talk?”
“I just took this interesting estate planning quiz and was really surprised by what I learned. Can we talk about it the next time we get together?”
Step Three: Get Organized
Most people are surprised to learn that settling an estate takes over 500 hours. Not because the legal process is complex, but because no one knows where anything is.
Think of it like being asked to cook a full meal without a recipe. You do not know what ingredients you need, where they are, or even what the final dish is supposed to look like. That is what most families face. A giant scavenger hunt at the worst possible time.
You do not have to solve all of that today. But you can start collecting the pieces.
Focus on a few key areas:
- Financial records and account details
- Passwords and digital accounts
- Property and real estate info
- Insurance policies
- Medical history and providers
- ID and personal documents
- Final wishes and instructions
If you want to DIY, we have dozens of Information Hubs dedicated to this topic to help you identify what to gather and what to do with it when the time comes.
For a guided experience, take a look at our CLEAR Kits. They walk you through the process of organizing everything in one place (from financial accounts to pet information) so no one is stuck digging through mystery folders or old file cabinets.
The point is not to finish everything today. The point is to stop making it up as you go.
Estate Organization Made Easy
Need Help Starting The Conversation?
Starting a conversation with your parents about their estate or end-of-life plans can feel awkward, emotional, or downright impossible. But it doesn’t have to be.
Tip: Make It a “Me” Problem
Instead of saying, “You need to get your documents in order,” try reframing the conversation around your own uncertainty:
“I’ve been thinking about what would happen if something unexpected came up, and I realized I don’t even know if we have the right documents. Can we go through a checklist together?”
Not sure where to begin? Take our free Estate Preparation Quiz in our Starting the Conversation Information Hub. It gives you a personalized starting point based on your parents’ current situation. You’ll receive:
- A score showing where things stand
- Copy-and-paste conversation openers
- Recommendations for what to ask next
You can also visit our full Start the Conversation Information Hub for free checklists, guides, and real-world advice.
Want Support from a Pro?
If the idea of doing this alone still feels overwhelming, we offer a guided facilitation session to help get the conversation rolling with our Start the Conversation With Your Parents service.
A 45-minute Zoom discussion with a Buried in Work facilitator to help ensure that the most important aspects of estate planning and end-of-life task preparation are covered..
Here’s how it works:
- One-on-One Facilitation
A professional facilitator joins a 45-minute Zoom call with your parents (or with all of you together), guiding the conversation with care and focus.
- Worksheets Included
You’ll receive filled-in versions of our Estate Summary Worksheet and Final Resting Place Instructions Worksheet to keep things organized and documented.
- No Legal Talk, Just What Matters
We won’t draft legal documents, but we’ll help your family get clear on values, wishes, and key non-financial planning topics.
- Flexible and Respectful
You can be part of the session, or we can lead the conversation directly with your parents. Recordings are available if requested.
Who Is This For?
- Adult children who want help breaking the ice
- Parents ready to start the conversation but unsure how
- Families who just need structure and a little nudge to get going
After your session, you’ll get a personalized summary and next steps to keep the momentum going.
Remember, this process isn’t about being perfect. You don’t have to start this process perfectly. You just have to start.
And we’re here to help you do it.
Still have questions? Contact us.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this website and by Buried in Work is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Please consult with a qualified attorney or subject matter expert for advice specific to your situation.