Blended Families Require Proper Planning

Second marriages bring additional estate planning considerations, especially when children from past relationships are involved. Here are some tips for addressing a blended family in estate planning.

Do you have a blended family? Have you made proper plans to ensure all of your family members are taken care of when you are no longer here?

1103352_51156944One of the more persistent stereotypes concerning family relationships is that of the children from a first marriage not getting along with a stepmother or stepfather. The most famous example is probably the wicked stepmother from Cinderella. Nevertheless, thousands upon thousands of other examples both real life and fictional exist.

While it is not always true, it is common enough that people with children from a spouse other than their current spouse need to take special care with their estate plans to lessen the likelihood that the current spouse and children will fight over the estate.

The Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog recently published an article on this issue appropriately titled "Considerations for Blended Families."

Here are a few of those “considerations”:

  • Make sure that your spouse and your adult children know how you want your assets distributed.
  • Use a trust to provide for both your spouse and your children from a previous marriage.
  • Update any powers of attorney and beneficiary designations to include your new spouse, if necessary.
  • Share a list of contacts with your spouse.

Estate planning for blended families is more challenging, but with the help of an experienced estate planning attorney you can do it in a way that minimizes the likelihood for any problems with the estate. Click here to contact one of our experienced attorneys.

Reference: Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog (March 2, 2015) "Considerations for Blended Families,"

Category: Current Affairs, Estate Plan, Estate Planning, Trust, Wills Tags: , No Comments

Manson Leaves Estate to Pen Pal

Charles Manson, who died in prison in November, knew he had an estate and he made plans for it to go to his pen pal, ac... Read More »

Problems Can Be Avoided by Informing Family of Plan

Surprise can sometimes be the biggest source of estate battles, so it is probably a good idea to talk to your family ab... Read More »

Insurance on Inheritance Tax May Be Helpful

Inheritance taxes have led families in the U.S. and the U.K. to figure out ways to avoid it.  However, insurance c... Read More »

Comments are closed.