Marriage has evolved over the years–today a majority of Americans wisely choose not to endure a relationship that simply doesn’t work. Whether you’ve been married twice, thrice, or more, you know the changes you’ve made have been right for you and right for your family. Still, our society is still working out that delicate balance between the needs of a multi-generational blended family with your own wishes.

Estate planning in those cases can be especially complicated–even when all the members of a blended family get along! Creating the intimate relationship of a new family from two frequently causes some friction, particularly if there remains some unhappiness about the original divorce. Adding estate planning into that mixture only serves to intensify that discord, so much so that some people prefer to avoid the issue of inheritance entirely.

As an experienced estate planning attorney, I’m here to tell you: Having no plan is not a good plan.

Just in case you still have cold feet about confronting the subject, here are four basic components of any effective estate plan that are vital for your family’s future:

• Any ex-spouses do not inherit;
• Your own children are protected;
• Your current spouse is provided for;
• Any estate taxes are minimized.

I’ve created a video that explains the general concept for a strategy that meets all these goals. You can watch it here.

Your family is like no other, so shouldn’t your estate plan be the same? The assistance of an expert when drafting your plan will ensure that your particular circumstances are fully covered and that your family doesn’t have any unpleasant surprises after you’re gone.

This is all the more true for a blended family. While a huge array of advice exists online or in books, few are targeted toward blended families and none could begin to address the complexities. Even if you’re a fan of a tough do-it-yourself project, estate planning for your blended family does not make a good one.

An experienced estate planning attorney can provide you with the individual attention you need to create an estate plan for your blended family.  If you’d like to learn more about estate planning for blended families, call our office today to schedule a time for us to sit down and talk.

Call us today at 612-206-3701 and mention this article or reach out via our contact form.

Image Courtesy of Boians Cho Joo Young | FreeDigitalPhotos.net