Two people who already have children from previous relationships might fall in love and decide they want to share their lives. From combining the rules enforced at both households to planning a workable budget for a bigger family, there are many challenges that parents starting blended families have to overcome.
The end result can be a healthy and happy family unit. Those who have previously divorced or lost a spouse may want to negotiate a prenuptial agreement before marrying again. Doing so can clarify expectations for the marriage and establish protections for everyone in the household. In addition to discussing a marital agreement, spouses starting a blended family together may need to create an estate plan.
Why estate planning matters
There are many legal and financial complications involved in combining two existing family units. Especially when the spouses already have certain resources in their names, they may need to make very clear and enforceable plans for the protection and distribution of their property.
Estate planning when starting a blended family requires in-depth conversations about what, if any, inheritance stepparents intend to provide for their stepchildren. Parents also need to discuss what may happen with the family home if they die. An estate plan can potentially dovetail with a prenuptial agreement to clarify which resources are separate and may pass to someone’s children as well as which resources are marital property that their spouse can inherit.
Living documents can also be important
Particularly as the children in the family mature, there may be tension between the children and their stepparent. Those disputes could come to a head when the parents of those children have some kind of personal emergency. There could be disagreements about what type of medical care is appropriate or who has the authority to make those decisions.
By creating an estate plan that includes advance directives explaining medical preferences, parents can help preserve the relationship that their spouse has with their children in an emergency. The stress of a medical emergency or unexpected death could do real damage to the relationship between stepchildren and stepparents.
Advance planning is one of the only ways to help ensure the protection of resources and family relationships in a blended household. Creating an estate plan gives people an opportunity to talk about their expectations and take steps to protect the people they love. Those who enter into new marriages with the right legal protections in place can increase their chances of achieving long-term familial harmony.