Estate Planning – Multiple Marriages

When two people, who have children from a previous marriage, marry, Estate Planning can become complicated.  Unfortunately, this causes people to try and avoid the issues, which can lead to an abundance of problems should one of the people in the marriage happen to pass away suddenly.

Often one person comes into the marriage with a greater financial power. This person may have legal advisers to help with the Estate Planning.  An attorney will be able to help you forsee any problems that you may run into when trying to do your Estate Plan.  An attorney can also advise you of various ways to draft your Estate Plan to best fit your wishes.

Before you head to your attorney, it is advisable to thoroughly discuss your wishes with your spouse. This may be the most time consuming part of the process.  If the two of you can come to an agreement of how the Estate Plan will be handled, there will be fewer problems when you actually go to the attorney for help.

You may also want to include your adult children in the conversation, but only after everything is settled between you and your spouse.  Adult children may bring up points that you hadn’t considered, which can be helpful. However, bringing children in before you and your spouse agree, can cause more problems and may divide the two of you.

So, when you’re ready to do your Estate Plan, talk with your spouse,  talk with your adult children and then see your attorney.  This way you are doing everything you can to help make life easier for your family, when they will be going through a difficult time.

We can help you with your Estate Plan.

Todd Courser 810-245-0813