If you have recently married or remarried, you need to consider the importance of estate planning. This will allow you and your partner to plan for your family’s future if you pass away or become incapacitated.
Beneficiary Designations
If you are in a blended family, you may be worried about how your assets will be distributed when you die. Fortunately, several trusts are available to help ensure what blended families should know about estate planning and which assets will go to the people you want them to. The first step is to ensure that your beneficiary designations are up to date. This is especially important if you have children. You will need to ensure that the person you designate as guardian can care for them in the event of your death. Ensure that you list your beneficiaries on all of your financial accounts. These include bank accounts, life insurance policies, and retirement accounts. Be sure to update your designations as often as possible. It is also a good idea to update your will as well. You must update your will when you have a significant life change. For example, if you marry again or if your ex-spouse dies. A new spouse will be a good addition to your list of beneficiaries, but you must ensure that your will reflects your current wishes. Your will can be updated by making a letter to your executor. Also, you may want to change your will if you have a legal directive, such as a medical power of attorney. You should remove your ex-spouse as the designated beneficiary if you have a retirement account. Changing this designation can bypass probate. In addition, you should change the beneficiary’s name if you have a life insurance policy.
Life Insurance Can Be Added To An Estate Plan.
Life insurance can help you ensure that your assets are distributed fairly and to the appropriate people in your blended family. It can also help you to avoid paying estate taxes. Many blended family members want to leave their assets to their children from a previous marriage. However, they don’t want to disinherit their new spouse. This can be complicated and lead to disputes. A skilled estate planning attorney can help you to avoid this. You can use your life insurance to fund a trust if you are married. The proceeds can be used to continue supporting your children. You can also pay your estate tax with the proceeds. If your family has children from a previous marriage, you should consider using an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust. An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT) is a document that lets you establish an irrevocable trust to protect your assets and distribute them to your heirs. There are different kinds of ILITs to choose from. Some are designed to benefit your surviving spouse; others are meant to benefit a certain family member. In general, you should not change an ILIT after you create it. You can also create a buy-sell agreement to equalize the distribution of your assets. This is particularly useful if you and your surviving spouse are a couple. You can also make changes to your beneficiary designations. These can be for investments, bank accounts, and even life insurance policies. Changing these designations is important to ensure that your surviving spouse is taken care of in the event of your death.
Revisit Your Estate Plan After A Divorce Or Remarriage
The process of divorce can be a confusing and emotionally taxing one. However, there are steps you can take to make it easier on yourself and your loved ones. This includes reviewing your estate plan. A good estate plan is an important part of any divorce. It helps ensure your wishes are carried out after you pass. You may need to change some of the documents in your plan, especially if your former spouse remarries. An estate plan also helps you protect the financial future of you and your family. If you do not have a plan, you may leave your loved ones exposed to unintended complications. One of the best ways to protect yourself is by updating your plan after your divorce. You should consider removing your ex-spouse as a trustee, executor, or beneficiary of any financial assets you own. Another way to protect your assets is to establish an asset protection trust. This trust will allow your estate to avoid probate and protect your beneficiaries’ inheritance from creditors. If you have a child or children, consider putting detailed wishes in place for them. In addition, consider a prenuptial agreement to help prevent any legal complications down the road. Many people forget to update their estate plans after they divorce. It is a major change to your life, and you need a new plan to fit your new circumstances. If you have a complicated estate plan, you may need to enlist the services of an estate planning attorney to help you. They will be able to review your plan to ensure that it is up to date and reflects your current situation.
