With a little communication and forethought, your estate plan can show fondness for loved ones even after you’re gone. Yes, done right and well, the following simple gestures can prove heartwarming for your family — and potentially life-affirming for you.

Finances. Heirloom pieces. Land. Wills. Because these topics are potentially sensitive, many of us are tempted to delay discussing what we want done with them after we’re gone. To avoid drama or tension within our families, we may even opt to make our legacy plans in isolation.

It’s an understandable move — one that many people choose to make. But it’s one that could backfire dramatically, resulting in more hurt feelings and miscommunication among the people you treasure the most.

There’s another way, however. One that’s more tender and heartfelt. Basically, it involves approaching estate planning — specifically the transfer of assets and precious items — with as much heart as head.

Start with the heart — and a good chat (or two)

One simple strategy to start with is to thoughtfully nurture heartfelt conversations with your family about your legacy wishes. You may want to be specific with regard to items or property with significant financial or personal value. In fact, you might discover something that you can address sooner rather than later.

For example, let’s say that you learn a father’s watch or one of your original oil paintings holds sentimental value for a specific child or grandchild. You might then opt to wrap and present it in person as a graduation, birthday or wedding gift. Imagine the joy you’ll feel watching their delight — and how grateful they might be having the opportunity to thank you in person.

Or perhaps you discover an unspoken consensus among your children and grandchildren about who should (or should not) be the executor of your estate or manage your health care matters. The information can help you take any necessary next steps to foster harmony about your ultimate decision.

» Tip: Worried about tensions flaring between family members when the topic of estate planning is broached? Consider enlisting an experienced, seasoned estate planning professional (e.g., your attorney or trust administrator) to help facilitate a sensitive conversation in their office. Having a third-party in the room, on neutral turf for your family members, may help keep everyone on their best behavior.

Learn about legal tools that can help

Although most of us grasp that there are a variety of tools to help communicate our legacy wishes in clear, succinct terms, we’re often slow to start working on them. The most common estate planning documents and tactics include:

• Wills
• Trusts
• Durable power of attorney
• Beneficiary designations
• Letters of intent
• Health care power of attorney
• Guardianship designations

Yet, while the idea of tackling these essentials may seem daunting, waiting will not make the work any easier. Prepared in collaboration with attorneys and trust administrators, such documents help lessen the likelihood of later confusion or litigation.

They can do more than merely transfer assets or ensure care. They can be created in ways that reflect the concerns closest to your heart.

You may also want to consider moving from an existing will-based estate plan to a trust-based estate plan. Why? Because a trust-based estate plan may afford you with the greatest ability to communicate clearly about how your heirs should benefit from your estate.

For instance, a trust can provide for relatives with special needs or minor children while maintaining their eligibility for governmental services. Or it can ensure ongoing, professionally managed support for adult beneficiaries. Have a beloved charity that you wish to support through your estate? This can be addressed, too.

Other advantages to consider? A trust-based estate plan may also help your heirs avoid probate¹ process delays or high estate taxes. As you consider how to pass along your assets, a trust (or combination of trusts) can give you some influence over how and under what circumstances inheritance is distributed.

» Tip: As important as it is to create essential estate planning documents, it's also important to keep your plans updated.

Consider slipping in a love-filled note

A modern strategy is to craft a tender love letter to your beneficiaries. You may also see these items called “love wills,” “legacy letters” or “ethical wills.”

Although not legally binding, a personalized letter can be an important, graceful addition to your overall estate planning. It can be an opportunity to express devotion, gratitude and personal values in ways that feel natural to you. You can share lessons learned from your life, cherished memories of your own parents or grandparents, or timeless wisdom from great thinkers that you hope your family heeds. The choice is yours.

Crafting the letter can be a wonderful way to reflect upon your life and the meaning friends and family have provided.

You can be a little creative with a love letter, too. For example, it need not be written or typed out. Instead, you can record a video connecting family history and specific heirlooms, make a slideshow to pass along your own philosophy of life or even create a collage with your favorite sayings and advice.

The vibe, format and delivery are entirely up to you. After all, in the end, it's truly the thought that counts.

The takeaway

When it comes to estate planning, there are several strategies and solutions that can support your unique long-range goals. Yet, for many of us, the goal is about something more than passing along personal treasures or assets. With proper care and the right tools, you can craft a heartfelt legacy benefiting your loved ones for years (or even decades) to come.

RBFCU Trust Services is here to help, where and how we can. Central to our work are professional trust administration and estate settlement services. Curious to learn more? Schedule your no-cost, no-obligation initial consultation today.