Estate Planning for a Blended Family
Nov. 21, 2023
Today, a lot of modern American families are blended and may comprise individuals from previous relationships, including a stepparent, step-sibling, or half-sibling. Since members of the blended family come together as a single unit, it is important to make adequate provision for each person in your comprehensive estate plan. Hence, if you need proper guidance when drafting or making changes to an existing estate plan for a blended family, consulting with a seasoned New York State attorney is crucial for trusted advocacy.
At the Law Office Of Corey J. Rossi, we have the diligence and expertise to advise and guide clients in complex estate planning matters involving blended families. Our dedicated attorneys can review your personal situation, enlighten you about your available estate planning options, and determine the right choice that best fits your unique needs. We proudly serve clients across Tonawanda, Wheatfield, Amherst, as well as throughout Niagara County and Erie County, New York.
Why Estate Planning is Important in Blended Families
Estate planning involves making adequate plans in advance and leaving instructions regarding how a person's estate and final affairs should be managed when they're gone or upon sudden incapacitation. Here are some reasons why estate planning is important for blending families:
It helps protect your assets, property, investments, business, and interests.
It allows you to make adequate provision for all your surviving loved ones, including minor children from previous relationships.
It helps mitigate inheritance issues that are often common with second or subsequent marriages.
It helps ensure equitable distribution of the blended family's assets.
It helps safeguard vital information and documents.
It allows you to leave clear instructions to your inheritors and descendants.
It helps mitigate issues during probate and estate administration.
It helps reduce estate, inheritance, and gift taxes.
It helps you prepare for future uncertainties.
Estate planning for blended families usually involves several unique issues. As a result, consulting with a seasoned lawyer may be beneficial to understand these challenges and to help you make well-informed decisions.
Estate Planning Challenges for a Blended Family
Here are some different issues you may encounter when creating an estate plan for a blended family:
Concerns about the size of inheritance available to beneficiaries.
Concerns about naming personal representatives or agents.
Concerns about the fair and equitable distribution of the blended family's assets.
Rivalry among siblings, which may result in disputes during estate administration.
Concerns about children from previous marriage or relationship getting disinherited by the surviving spouse.
Children may need to wait until the stepparent's demise to get their inheritance.
Failure to update your estate planning documents.
Dying without an estate plan – will or trust.
A knowledgeable estate planning attorney can work intelligently with you to address these unique challenges and explore your available estate planning options for your blended family.
Options for the Estate Plan
Here are some available estate planning options for blended families:
Will
For blended families, drafting a well-detailed last will and testament can provide specific instructions about how assets, property, and money should be distributed to your spouse, biological, adopted, and step-children, and other surviving loved ones. Also, you should consider each person's needs and financial situation to ensure fair distribution.
Trust
You can establish a trust to preserve and manage assets for minor children or other family members until a future date. A trust can protect assets from frivolous lawsuits and creditors and help ensure that you leave adequate provisions for the beneficiary. Common types of trust for blended families include:
Family Trust – In a family trust, all assets and property will go into a combined trust when one spouse dies. The surviving spouse will decide how assets should be distributed to the children based on their needs.
Marital Trust – In a marital trust, you can leave assets for your surviving spouse and also allocate assets for every child when the spouse dies. Due to the flexibility the marital trust offers, you are able to make adequate plans for all your descendants.
Other Key Issues to Address
Some other vital issues to address during estate planning for your blended family include:
Consider leaving assets directly for each child in your will through immediate bequests.
Have an honest and open discussion with your spouse and family members.
Review and update your estate planning documents regularly.
Consider drafting a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement with your spouse.
Appoint a competent personal representative (executor), trustee, and legal guardian for minor children.
Clarify the beneficiary designations on your retirement accounts, life insurance policies, pension plans, and other assets and property.
Most importantly, ensure that you seek professional guidance when drafting or reviewing your will, trust, and other estate planning documents.
Build a Plan That's Tailored to You
Creating an estate plan for a blended family often involves a lot of complexities and requires thoughtful consideration. At the Law Office Of Corey J. Rossi, we're dedicated to advising and guiding clients in all legal matters of estate planning for blended families. Our reliable legal team can enlighten you about your available options, work diligently to address your needs and concerns, and help establish the appropriate estate plan that best suits you and your family's needs.
Contact us at the Law Office Of Corey J. Rossi today to schedule an initial consultation with practiced estate planning lawyers. Our trusted attorney can offer you the highly-personalized legal counsel and brilliant advocacy you need to navigate crucial decisions. We're proud to serve clients across Tonawanda, Wheatfield, Amherst, as well as throughout Niagara County and Erie County, New York.