Estate Planning for Your
When it comes to estate planning, most people think of organizing their finances to ensure their assets are in order for their surviving loved ones. But estate planning also includes your pets. You view your pets like family, so why not plan for them and their needs? Here are the three steps you need to take when estate planning for your four-legged family members. No. 1: Decide Who Will Care For Your Pet You first want to decide who will take care of your pet. This individual will be responsible for providing your furry companion with daily care throughout their lifetime. Like
HAVE YOU ADAPTED TO YOUR NEW ROLE? BEING A BETTER GRANDPARENT There are few roles as coveted as being a grandparent, but today’s grandparents do far more than slip $10 bills and hard candies to their grandchildren. While there are still opportunities for growth, new studies have found that grandparents are taking on active roles and loving it. Here are two prominent lessons on grandparenting in 2022. Positive Progress: Supporting Grandchildren The make-up of American families today isn’t cut and dry. An AARP survey found that one-third of grandparents are a different race than their grandchildren and most would support their LGBTQ+ grandchildren. While many grandparents find sharing pieces of their heritage is important with grandchildren, a 2021 Good Housekeeping article noted that many grandparents who share different ethnicities with their grandchildren welcome new cultures. In fact, many weave their traditions together. When it comes to navigating these waters, Good Housekeeping recommends talking about an approach with parents first. Some may choose to keep or remove certain traditions. Furthermore, grandparents are viewing their roles with grandchildren as active rather than passive. A 2021 Good Housekeeping survey of parents and grandparents discovered that nearly 70% said they were “cooler” than their own grandparents and that they want to babysit, versus feeling obligated. Needs Work: Supporting Parents The 2019 AARP study shares that most grandparents surveyed believe they parent better than their grandchildren’s parents, but it may be best if that thought isn’t vocalized. In contrast to this, the Good Housekeeping survey explained that grandparents “sharing outdated advice” was among the biggest frustrations for parents. Instead, experts at Stanford Children’s Health recommend taking “grandparenting classes,” which provide new grandparents with the latest medical direction that parents are provided. And, if you feel obligated to share advice, ask first and make sure the parent knows it’s only your perspective. In all other scenarios, it’s best to keep your opinion to yourself and foster a grandparenting relationship that supports your grandchildren’s parents.
planning for children, before you discuss finances, you must decide who you’re confident and comfortable with to be your pet’s caregiver.
An option may be selecting someone who already has pets
of their own. But you need to look at how they treat their pets and if they will be able to maintain your animal’s standard of living. No two pet
Puzzle Time!
Answers:
Want to be a better grandparent? Sign up for a local grandparenting class; these are typically offered through medical or community centers.
www.TrinityElderLaw.com
2
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator