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Estate Planning for Blended Families

June 6, 2023

How an Experienced Attorney Can Help

Blended families, which are families with children from previous marriages/relationships, are becoming increasingly common. However, estate planning for blended families can be more complex than for traditional families. In this post, we will discuss how an experienced attorney can guide you through the process of estate planning for blended families.

What is Estate Planning?

Estate planning is the process of arranging for the management and distribution of your assets after your death. This process can involve creating a will, establishing trusts, and naming beneficiaries for your assets. Estate planning also involves making decisions about who will make medical and financial decisions for you if you become incapacitated.

The Challenges of Estate Planning for Blended Families

Blended families face unique challenges when it comes to estate planning. For example, it can be difficult to decide how to distribute assets to children from previous marriages/relationships and to the current spouse or partner. In some cases, a blended family may have children from multiple previous marriages/relationships, and children together, which can further complicate matters.

Stepfamilies

Stepfamilies, which are families in which one or both partners have children from previous marriages, are the most common type of blended family. In stepfamilies, it can be challenging to balance the needs of the current spouse with the needs of the children from previous marriages/relationships. For example, the current spouse may want to provide for their spouse after their death, while also ensuring that their children from a previous marriage receive a fair share of their assets.

Estate Planning for Blended Families

Complex Family Structures

In some blended families, there may be multiple children from previous marriages/relationships and stepchildren. This can create a complex family structure that makes it difficult to determine how to distribute assets. An experienced estate planning attorney can help you navigate these complexities and develop a plan that meets your goals.

Tax Implications

Estate planning for blended families can also have tax implications. For example, if you leave assets to your current spouse, those assets may be subject to estate tax when your spouse dies. Similarly, if you leave assets to your children from a previous marriage, those assets may be subject to estate tax when you die. An experienced estate planning attorney can help you understand these tax implications and develop a plan that minimizes your tax liability.

The Role of an Experienced Estate Planning Attorney

An experienced estate planning attorney can help you navigate the complexities of estate planning for blended families. Here are some ways in which an attorney can assist you:

Understand Your Goals

One of the first things an estate planning attorney will do is to understand your goals. This includes understanding your family structure, your assets, and your wishes for how those assets should be distributed after your death. An attorney can help you identify potential challenges and develop a plan that meets your goals.

Create a Will or Trust

An estate planning attorney can help you create a will or trust that reflects your wishes for the distribution of your assets. They can also help you create a plan for the management of your assets if you become incapacitated. This can include establishing a power of attorney for financial and medical decisions.

Address Tax Implications

An experienced estate planning attorney can help you understand the tax implications of your estate plan and develop a plan that minimizes your tax liability. This can include strategies such as gifting assets during your lifetime, establishing trusts, and using other tax-saving vehicles.

Review and Update Your Plan

Finally, an estate planning attorney can help you review and update your plan as your family and financial circumstances change. This can help ensure that your

estate plan remains up to date and continues to reflect your wishes.

Conclusion

Estate planning for blended families can be complex, but an experienced estate planning attorney can help you navigate the process. By understanding your goals, creating a will or trust, addressing tax implications, and reviewing and updating your plan, an attorney can help ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes. If you are part of a blended family and are considering estate planning, we recommend seeking the guidance of an experienced attorney to help you create a plan that meets your unique needs.

With this, as with ALL legal matters, you are strongly advised to speak with an attorney.

For questions or assistance, contact the Law Offices of Katharine J. Richards, P.C.
at (516) 505-1780 or e-mail Info@KJRichardsLaw.com.