By Lori Harris
When families begin shaping their estate plans, they often discover that the process involves far more than legal documents and financial decisions. It brings up deep questions about values, relationships, and the kind of legacy you hope to leave.
Some common questions families wrestle with are:
- What if my children aren’t walking with the Lord?
- How do I prevent conflict between siblings?
- How much is too much to leave as an inheritance?
- Will this inheritance help or hurt my children?
- What if my children choose to support organizations I disagree with?
- How do I prevent my kids from squandering what I leave for them?
These types of questions naturally become part of the decision‑making process as you work through what to leave, how to structure your plan, and how to care well for the next generation.
But once your plans are in place, it’s just as important to share those plans with your family. And that part can sometimes feel challenging. Many feel apprehensive or simply unsure about how to explain their decisions or the “why” behind them. Especially if they’ve made decisions that might contradict expectations. However, communicating your intentions now can prevent misunderstandings later and foster unity and peace within your family.
To help make the conversation easier, we’ve created a Family Meeting Agenda, a resource designed to guide you through sharing your estate plans with your children.
Access the Family Meeting Agenda Here
If you’d like to receive this resource as a PDF document by email, please let us know.
