Wills and Blended Families

Estate planning for blended families is key to a smooth inheritance process. Probate rules and intestate succession law may not treat inheritance the same for stepchildren and biological children. Open communication about your estate plan is also helpful in managing the expectations of your heirs.

Trying to be equitable among your heirs can be tricky. You may hope your spouse and children will work things out after you have passed away. However, you want to avoid this common estate planning mistake. It can easily create unnecessary heartache for the loved ones you leave behind.

Carve out some quiet time and identify your most important estate planning goals. This includes deciding how you would like to divide all your hard-earned assets between your various loved ones.

These assets include your house, car, jewelry, other personal items, investments, retirement plans, brokerage accounts, and insurance. If you opt to gift items before your death, be certain you no longer include the asset or property in your estate plan. Even items of little financial value may be an expected inheritance from the perspective of a child.

The goal is to reduce tensions among family members. Read more about how to determine the right estate planning documents for your family.

If you have questions or want to talk with an attorney, we offer free initial consultations. Give us a call today at (605) 275-5665.