Blended Families

Couple meeting with estate planning for blended families lawyer

Change Happens Rapidly

You divorce the person you thought you would spend the rest of your life with. Later, you find a new partner with their own children. When more individuals become involved in your life, planning for the future tends to become more complicated. As blended families become more and more common, they may pose a challenge when determining your estate plans. But with an experienced estate planning attorney by your side, you can take care of your blended families.

The Nashville estate planning attorneys at MHPS have extensive experience preparing complex estates for clients across Middle Tennessee. We’ll carry out your wishes and make sure the property and assets go to who you intend to receive them. If you need legal assistance in an estate planning matter involving a second marriage, contact our office today to schedule an appointment.

The Difficulties of Estate Planning for Blended Families

With divorce becoming more and more common these days, blended families are not a foreign concept. According to The Atlantic, only one-third of American households are traditional two-parent, nuclear families.

With so many different families, it can become confusing when it’s time to create a will or a trust. You want to leave an inheritance to your current spouse, but also to your children, your stepchildren, and perhaps your ex-spouse as well. There are several risks involved with making a mistake with your estate plans, including:

  • Disinheriting your children by accident
  • Delaying your children receiving the inheritance
  • Causing disputes to arise over the division of property

Such complexities are why it is crucial to speak to an experienced estate planning attorney. We handle these types of estates on a regular basis.

Family after inheritance split mixed families

Woman completes estate planning for blended families

How Estate Planning Can Help

Estate planning for blended families is the best way to protect your assets after you are gone. By establishing the appropriate trust or will, we will ensure that the intended beneficiaries receive the assets that a grantor wishes to bestow.

One example of protecting your assets is setting up a trust. With a trust, you know for sure that your children will receive the assets and property you intend on leaving them. Otherwise, without a trust, your current spouse may remarry, and their new spouse could acquire all the assets. Our very own Attorney David Heller wrote a great blog post on dividing your assets in a second marriage to provide more information.

Estate planning for blended families also must deal with an individual’s past. This is especially important if you are under obligation for spousal or child support payments. Having an open and honest conversation with a current spouse regarding these types of responsibilities is essential. In some instances, executing a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement may solve some of the issues that could arise. You should also make sure to update or review any existing power of attorney or living will that gives decision-making power to a former spouse.

Utilizing Estate Planning Tactics for Blended Families

Being open and honest with your new spouse is of the utmost importance. But there are also strategies you can employ to ensure you are looking out for the interests of your spouse and your children from your first marriage. These are not the only options available, which is why you need the guidance of a trusted Tennessee family law firm for your blended family estate planning needs.These are not the only options available, which is why you need the guidance of a trusted Tennessee family law firm for your blended family estate planning needs.

You may want to consider:

Prenuptial agreements

A prenuptial agreement is a contract entered into by a couple before marriage. These agreements contain provisions regarding each spouse’s rights and obligations. It will also serve as a useful tool when it comes to ensuring your children get your assets in the way you decide.

Trusts

Trusts are often a balancing act and one that many individuals prefer. A trust can be used to support the spouse who is living. Then, when he or she passes, the remaining assets of the trust go to the children.

Beneficiary Designations

Beneficiary designations allow for the deceased to plan for the future of the blended family by designating which assets go to whom once they pass.

Contact Our Nashville Estate Planning Attorneys Today!

Being a part of a blended family may make planning for the future more complicated. The Nashville lawyers at MHPS offer a wide array of legal services, ranging from establishing trusts and wills to handling family law matters.

Don’t leave these decisions to the last minute. Now is the time to plan for your future and the future of your blended family. At MHPS, our estate planning lawyers will guide you through the process with the compassion needed. With years of experience in estate planning and administration, we know how to protect your assets and prepare for the unknown.

Attorney plans trust for blended families