The Brady Bunch Breaks Down: Estate Fights Tear Stepfamilies Apart

More American couples are coming together with children from prior relationships. It often goes well until it comes time to read the will.

When Bishop Rayford High Jr., a widow with 3 adult children married the Rev. Ann Normand with 3 adult children they resolved their differences with a prenuptial agreement and decided to keep their family heirlooms separate.

They also decided to have an outsider as trustee and executor instead of a biological child after their deaths to avoid conflict.

Spouses in blended families usually make medical and funeral decisions for each other and this works well as long as they are reviewed with their respective biological children.

In second marriage situations, we often create a separate trust for each spouse and a community trust for the entire family to first share with the surviving spouse for his or her life and then to be passed to the separate children. Using separate trusts outside the main plan works well to guarantee the children get their inheritance.

For blended families, the key to avoiding a crisis later is estate planning in advance and to share their plan with their respective children so there are no surprises when one spouse dies. When there are new spouses and children from previous marriages, there are many difficult choices that need to be made as soon as possible.

Call the Trust Dr. (W. Bailey Smith) who has created over 7,000 trusts to get your affair in order and to stay out of court.

(949) 833-8891 BSmith@yourtrustdr.com