Blended families have become increasingly common, everyone knows someone who’s in one, if not actually in one themselves. These extended family trees challenge traditional estate planning concepts, adding a layer of complexity that requires some detailed, thoughtful planning to ensure that the blended family members do not end up at odds over miscommunication or a careless inheritance plan that fails to reflect everyone’s status and situation. The estate planning attorneys at Morris, Downing & Sherred, LLP are here to help you.
Emphasizing Clear Communication
One way to try to foster harmony among a layered, blended family is to engage in specific and clear communication about intentions and expectations around inheritance and property. It is important to try to minimize misunderstandings or unrealistic expectations by being honest about your plans for your estate.
Understanding Family Dynamics
The composition of blended families—encompassing children from previous unions, stepchildren, and adopted children—demands a deep dive into New Jersey inheritance laws. Notably, half siblings, adopted children and stepchildren are all treated differently for purposes of inheritance under New Jersey law. Drafting an estate plan, like some issues in family law, is very fact and situation specific, with serious ramifications, if drafted inexpertly.
Balancing the Interests of Spouses and Children in Blended Families
When two (or sometimes three) families blend together as the original parents marry, have subsequent children and maybe later divorce, more sophisticated estate planning tools than just a traditional will may be needed to ensure that there is harmony and balance among all the layers of children and the current spouse and that your wishes are properly carried out as you intended. There are many considerations that go into the drafting of an estate plan, your wishes on the distribution of property, your desire to take care of your loved ones, the tax consequences on those receiving bequests or trust related interests and planning for incapacity as a result of injury or old age. This list is not exhaustive.
Our experience, our collective wisdom and our dedication to excellence are here to serve you and help you arrange your affairs in the way that you direct.
Contact Our New Jersey Estate Planning Attorneys Today
To discuss your estate planning or probate administration needs with one of our experienced attorneys, contact us at (973) 383-2700 for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation.
