Many people have happy blended families today. Step-families can share as much love as biological families. However, there is one place where blended families can become more complicated: estate planning. No matter how much you love your step-family, you might find it difficult to wade through this territory when you plan for the future. These tips will help you maintain relationships while also planning for your children and the future:
Be As Thorough As Possible
You need to understand how important it is to be thorough. You must ensure that each asset is taken care of so that you do not leave anything that can be questionable. Any room for interpretation can lead to a difficult situation for all involved. You need to be as explicit as possible about your desires, and you should list what you want to happen in the event that you pass before your spouse or if you pass at the same time.
Talk To Your Spouse
When you pass, you may not want a lot of surprises. It is a smart idea to speak with your spouse before you put into writing any specific decisions about your wishes for the future. Transparency can save people a lot of heartbreak after you pass, and it may quell some of the family drama that tends to erupt.
Take Stock of Your Documents Regularly
It is always a good idea to take stock of your legal documents, especially after any major life event. Read over your estate documents to ensure that everything is in order. You should always look at your documents after a marriage, birth, divorce, death, or adoption; any of these events can change the course of your blended family's future.
Don't Try to Do It Alone
Before you even get married, it is a good idea for you and your spouse-to-be to meet with an attorney to determine what you can do to ensure that each person's needs are attended to. With an attorney, you can determine what is fair and what will be legally manageable for both you and your new spouse. There are a lot of intricate details to work out, so now is a good time to figure out the details together.
Want to know more about estate planning when you have a blended family? Now is a great time to speak with an estate planning attorney to see what steps you can take today to move forward. You can contact professionals like those at Skeen Law Offices for more information.
