January 31, 2014. Anyone who has children or some modest assets should consider having a will. If you are a part of a blended family, that need becomes more imperative. It is common to have children from prior marriages and from the current marriage. The common saying, “his, hers, theirs” applies here. Blended families touch all difference age ranges from the families with young children to widows/widowers with adult children.
When the new spouse is significantly younger, this sometimes means that the older spouse’s children are close in age to the younger. These relationships can cause more than friction between the step-parent and step-children.
Most parents want to ensure that their assets will pass to their children, not their stepchildren. However, absent good estate planning, there is no guarantee that their children will inherit their assets. In fact, if the couple creates common “I love you” wills such that their assets pass to the survivor of them, there is a significant likelihood their children will be totally disinherited. Absent a will to direct the deceased’s wishes, this can easily happen.
Talk to your family law attorney during your divorce proceeding about these types of issues so you can update your will as needed. Prior to a re-marriage, discuss the consequences the marriage may have on your children or other family members. For more information about blended families and estate planning, contact Goosmann Law for more information: email info@goosmannlaw.com or call 712.226.4000.
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