Estate Planning for Blended Families

Estate planning is a crucial aspect of ensuring that your assets and properties are distributed according to your wishes after you pass away. However, when it comes to blended families, the process can become significantly more complex. Blended families, which consist of spouses with children from previous marriages or relationships, present unique challenges that demand careful consideration and thoughtful planning.

In our latest article, we will look at the reasons why many individuals mistakenly believe they have simple estates, explore the concept of blended families, and provide an example of a case where estate planning is essential for such families to ensure a fair distribution of assets.

Explaining Misconceptions about Simple Estates

Traditionally, the notion of estate planning revolved around the idea of passing down assets to your immediate family, typically a spouse and children. In such cases, estate planning might seem relatively straightforward. However, as family structures have evolved over the years, more individuals find themselves in blended family situations.

One common misconception is assuming that the existence of a simple Will is sufficient for asset distribution. People may overlook the fact that a Will primarily addresses the distribution of assets to immediate family members and may not reflect their current family dynamics. Assets that were once expected to be passed down to biological children may now need to be shared with stepchildren or a new spouse.

For instance, if someone remarries, any previous Will is revoked and they would need to address writing a new and up to date Will. This would enable provision for their new spouse but also enable them to protect their share in a property of the benefit of their intended beneficiaries (usually children) whilst also enabling that their spouse has a right to benefit from the ‘share’ in the house during their lifetime. We do go into more detail on this (a protective property trust) in this article.

Understanding Blended Families

A blended family is a family unit composed of a couple and their children from current and previous relationships. It results from marriage, cohabitation, or a long-term committed partnership where at least one or both partners have children from prior unions. Blended families are becoming increasingly common as divorce rates rise and people enter new relationships later in life.

Blended families often come with a mix of financial responsibilities, emotional ties, and potential inheritances. The complexities arise due to the varying relationships between stepparents, stepchildren, and biological children. Estate planning for blended families must address these complexities to ensure that everyone’s interests are protected and that assets are distributed fairly to prevent any future claims or disputes.

Examples of Estate Planning for Blended Families

Case Study: The Carter Family

Andrew and Sarah, both in their late thirties, got married after going through divorces from their respective spouses. Andrew has two children, Emily (age 12) and Oliver (age 15), from his first marriage, while Sarah has one child, Sophie (age 10), from her previous marriage. Together, Andrew and Sarah have a young daughter, Lily, who is seven years old.

In this scenario, Andrew and Sarah’s estate planning goals include:

Providing for the biological children: Andrew and Sarah want to ensure that their biological children, Emily, Oliver, and Sophie, inherit their fair share of assets.
Protecting the interests of their child together: Lily is their only child together, and they want to ensure her financial well-being and guardianship in case both of them pass away.
Addressing stepchildren’s interests: Andrew and Sarah also want to include provisions to protect and provide for their stepchildren, Sophie, Oliver, and Emily, as they are part of their family and because they respect each other’s wishes to provide for them.
Minimising potential conflicts: They want to avoid any disputes among their children or extended family members over the distribution of assets.

To address these concerns, Andrew and Sarah decide to create a comprehensive estate plan that includes:

Mirror Wills: Andrew and Sarah establish “Mirror Wills” that leave their assets to the surviving spouse, and after both of them pass away, the assets will be divided equally among all their children, including stepchildren.
Specific Bequests: Andrew and Sarah include specific bequests for sentimental items, family heirlooms, or funds to be allocated to individual family members.
Guardianship Provisions: They name a guardian for Lily in their Wills, ensuring she is cared for by someone they trust in case both parents are no longer alive.
Regular Review: Andrew and Sarah commit to reviewing and updating their estate plan periodically to reflect any changes in their family dynamics or the law.
They also make provision to ensure that should one of them die first, their Wills, if altered, wouldn’t preclude their children from their first marriage from benefiting. This was done by including property trusts to prevent sideways disinheritance.

Estate planning for blended families demands meticulous attention to detail and an understanding of the unique complexities involved which is why is it so important to consult an Estate Planning firm such as Just Wills and Legal Services. By acknowledging the shifting family dynamics and seeking professional guidance, families like the Carters can create comprehensive estate plans that ensure fair distribution, protect all family member’s interests, and minimise potential conflicts. For blended families, proactive estate planning is not just about dividing assets but also about solidifying the bonds that hold them together even after the passing of a loved one.