How to Talk to Your Partner About Estate Planning (Without It Being Awkward)

Talking about estate planning isn’t usually one of the top conversations for the dinner table or date night (unless your partner is an estate planning lawyer…), but it’s one of the most important conversations you can have.

Estate planning is an act of love and respect. It’s about protecting each other, your family, other loved ones, and the life you’ve built together. Still, bringing up the topic can feel a bit uncomfortable or unnatural – particularly if you or your spouse have big feelings about death.

In this article we cover how to navigate estate planning without it turning into a buzzkill.

1. Pick the Right Moment

You know your partner and routine best. Choose a relaxed, distraction-free moment (or as much as you can manage – we know this isn’t always achievable if you have small children or a lot on your plate!). It might a weekend walk, over a coffee, or if you’re talking about other adult responsibilities like reviewing finances or insurance.

You could start with something simple like: “Hey, I’ve been reading about estate planning and it made me realise we haven’t sorted ours out. Have you thought about what we’d want to happen if something unexpected happened to one of us?”.

Another approach? You could lead with how you’ve stumbled onto our social media accounts (find us on Instagram and Facebook) and it made you think about estate planning…

2. Focus on the Big Picture

Frame the conversation around planning for the future and making sure each other + the people you love are looked after.

If you have kids, this is a great entry point: “If something happened to both of us, who would we want to care for the kids? How can we make sure they’re financially secure?” If you own a home together, you might ask: “What would happen with the house if one of us wasn’t here? Would the other be able to stay in it?”

3. Take the Pressure Off

You don’t have to decide everything in one conversation. Estate planning is a process, and the goal is just to start thinking about what matters most.

If you’re unsure where to start, download our free Estate Plan Guidebook to take the overwhelm out of estate planning. This e-book steps your through the documents you need to protect yourself and your loved ones, how to appoint the best suited people to control positions, and a step-by-step guide to sorting your estate plan.

If your partner is hesitant, acknowledge that: “I know this isn’t the most exciting thing to talk about, but I think we’d both feel better knowing we have a plan in place. We don’t have to figure it all out right now, but maybe we could look at it together?”

4. Cover the Essentials

Once you’re both on board, you can start thinking about key estate planning decisions, like:

  • Wills: Who inherits what? Who will be the executor?
  • Guardianship: Who will care for your children if you both pass away?
  • Superannuation and life insurance: Who have you nominated as beneficiaries? Check in on the value of your super + insurance benefits.
  • Powers of Attorney: Who would make financial and medical decisions if one of you couldn’t?

5. Get Professional Help

We’re here to guide you through every step of the process with care and professional advice. We make the process simple and stress-free.

Use our online calendar to book our heart-to-heart initial consult and take the first step towards peace of mind and protection.

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Client testimonial - Jacqui is one of the most kind and caring humans you could ever meet. She was very compassionate as she guided my husband and I through our estate planning journey which was greatly appreciated when we were making plans for our daughter. Despite how confronting this was, Jacqui carefully guided us to make thoughtful and mindful decisions that gave us a sense of comfort and security. I would highly recommend Jacqui to anyone wanting to create an estate plan.
Client testimonial - Jacqui has a clear passion for estate planning which shows in every detail of her offerings. From the first point of contact, to the meeting right through to receiving the important documents to sift through and sign. Even after my matter was finalised, I had some follow up questions about my Will. Jacqui’s swift response with immense detail showcases her love for this corner of the law - a specialty that may not usually attract such a vibrant yet down-to-earth professional. Jacqui made the whole experience easy and stress-free. I feel like I’ve successfully put my ‘big-girl’ pants on by planning my Will and Estate. I’d recommend her to anyone wanting to do the same (big-girl pants optional).
Client testimonial -As someone who is from an extremely different professional background to lawyers, I often find processes to be drawn out, needlessly complicated and frustrating. Working with Jacqui was the polar opposite; streamlined, easy to understand and without hassle. The documents are of the highest quality and exactly what I wanted. Jacqui is extremely personable, and whilst preparing these documents at a time where I was dealing with a terminal health condition, Jacqui was sensitive and professional to be sure, but also able to connect beyond that, and turn a confronting process in to a pleasant one. I am currently actively recommending Sun Wills and Estates, and Jacqui’s services to all my friends. If you’re reading this, don’t hesitate, you’ve found the best in the business.
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Client testimonial - Jacqui made the whole process of setting up a Will and Power of Attorney so easy for me. She was kind and answered everything I asked in an easy to understand way. She has such a lovely nature it was like dealing with a friend. My previous Will was through the Public Trustee and in comparison I can’t believe the difference. I’m so pleased I came across her business through a Facebook group and would highly recommend. I’m a solo mum and I feel so much more confident having set everything in place.
Client testimonial - I've only had a Will done by a solicitor once before and the experience was chalk and cheese. Whereas my previous experience left me annoyed and thinking it wasn't worth the money, the total opposite was true with Jacqui at Sun Wills & Estates. Her approach was both friendly and professional. I felt she wanted to understand my needs and preferences and help me achieve what I wanted. She patiently answered a dozen questions and offered a whole heap more information about stuff I didn't even know I needed to think about. She allowed me the time I needed to think things through and return paperwork. I was very happy with the service and end product and would highly recommend Jacqui at Sun Wills & Estates.
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