Category: Probate

Preparing Your Adult Children for Their Inheritance

Preparing Your Adult Children for Their Inheritance

Talking about inheritance with your children is one of the most important conversations you can have. However, it’s never easy. This is a conversation about what happens after you’re gone. Preparing your adult children for their inheritance can prevent many problems down the road.

Avoiding the topic of inheritance might seem like the path of least resistance. That is true at first. However, after you’re gone, your loved ones might suffer confusion, misunderstandings and family conflicts due to a lack of communication. Not discussing your plans could pose unanswered questions to your children or, worse, unexpected financial burdens.

According to Fidelity, open communication helps your children avoid surprises and prepares them emotionally and financially. Discussing your estate plans with your adult children can smooth the transition of wealth by sharing the values and intentions behind your decisions.

Starting the conversation about inheritance can be awkward. However, it doesn’t have to be. Begin by setting clear expectations. Let your children know why you’re discussing this and what you hope to achieve. Focusing on the importance of family unity and ensuring that everyone is on the same page is helpful.

You can start with simple topics, like how you manage your finances or the basics of your estate plan. As the conversation progresses, more details will be introduced, such as how assets will be distributed and the reasons behind these decisions.

Financial education plays a significant role in preparing your children for their inheritance. If your children lack basic money management skills, they may struggle to manage the wealth they inherit.

Start teaching them early by encouraging good financial habits. For example, you can help them set up a budget, open a savings account, or understand the importance of credit. As they age, consider discussing more complex topics, such as investing, taxes and the importance of maintaining a financial cushion.

Many parents worry about how their children will manage a large inheritance. If this concerns you, establishing a trust can effectively protect your assets, while still providing for your children’s needs.

Trusts can be tailored to fit your family’s unique situation. For example, you might set up a generation-skipping trust to benefit your grandchildren or a spendthrift trust to prevent a beneficiary from mismanaging their inheritance. Trusts can also help minimize taxes and protect your assets from creditors.

Even with the best preparation, the wealth transition can still be challenging. One of the best ways to ensure a smooth process is by developing a comprehensive estate plan built on clear communication and understanding. Ensure that your children know where essential documents are stored and who to contact when the time comes. Consider creating a family mission statement to outline your values and provide guiding principles for your children.

Preparing your adult children for their inheritance is about more than just transferring money. It’s about passing on your values and ensuring that they’re ready to handle the responsibilities that come with it. If you would like to learn more about managing an inheritance, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: Fidelity (Jul. 26, 2024) “Preparing your children for their inheritance

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Uncovering a Life Insurance Policy for a Deceased Loved One

Uncovering a Life Insurance Policy for a Deceased Loved One

Losing a loved one is challenging, and managing their financial affairs can add to the burden. Amidst the grief and emotional turmoil, you also need to learn if your deceased parent or spouse had a life insurance policy. Uncovering a life insurance policy for a deceased loved one can provide valuable financial support, settling debts and funeral expenses in this difficult time. While the process can be daunting, a skilled estate planning attorney can help you get started.

A life insurance policy can sometimes go unclaimed, if the insurance company isn’t aware that the policyholder has passed away or can’t find the beneficiaries. This can make the process of claiming insurance more challenging. However, you just need to know where to start looking for the policy.

According to USA Today, the first place to look is through your loved one’s personal files and documents. Some common places where you might find life insurance policy documentation include safe deposit boxes at banks or bank statements that include premium payments. At home, search filing cabinets, desk drawers and incoming or outgoing mail that may include correspondence from the insurance company or a life insurance agent.

If you can’t find the policy documentation, consider reaching out to professionals who may have helped your parents or spouse with their financial or legal matters. These professionals might include financial advisors, estate planners and lawyers. You can also check with insurance companies where your parents had other policies, such as homeowners or auto insurance.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) offers an online life insurance policy locator service. By submitting a request, you can have participating insurance companies search their records for policies in your parent or spouse’s name. You’ll need to provide some basic information, such as the deceased’s full name, Social Security number, date of birth, date of death and your relationship to them.

If you’re still having trouble locating a policy, private search services are available for a fee. These services will contact insurance companies on your behalf to find out if your loved one had any policies.

Once you locate a policy, the next step is to determine if you’re the beneficiary. You’ll need to contact the life insurance company directly. If you are listed as a beneficiary, the insurer will likely ask for proof of your identity, such as your driver’s license or Social Security number.

When you’re ready to file a claim, you’ll need to provide the insurance company with specific information, including the insured’s full name (including their maiden name, if applicable), the insured’s Social Security number, the insured’s death certificate and proof of your identity and relationship to the policyholder.

Some companies allow you to file claims online, while others may require contacting them directly.

There are two main types of life insurance policies: term life insurance and permanent life insurance. Term life insurance provides coverage for a set period. The beneficiaries receive the death benefit if the policyholder dies within this term. Permanent life insurance offers lifelong coverage if the premiums are paid. This includes whole life insurance, variable life insurance and universal life insurance.

Uncovering a life insurance policy for a deceased loved one can provide financial relief during a difficult time. If you need help navigating this process, the death of a loved one, or want to ensure that your own affairs are in order, consider reaching out to an experienced probate and trust administration attorney. If you would like to learn more about the role of life insurance in estate planning, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: USAToday (Sep. 21, 2023) “How To Find Life Insurance Policies of a Deceased Parent

 

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Godparents Lack Legal Rights Unless Named as Guardians

Godparents Lack Legal Rights Unless Named as Guardians

Choosing godparents for your children is an important decision for many families. However, it’s crucial to understand that godparents lack any legal rights, unless named as guardians in your will. If you’d like your children’s godparents to serve as guardians in an emergency, consider if they’re suitable for the responsibility and take the legal steps needed to recognize them as guardians.

Parents often choose godparents to have a religious or spiritual influence on their children. They are typically involved in special ceremonies, such as baptisms, and may play a supportive role in their children’s upbringing. However, being a godparent does not grant any legal rights or responsibilities over the child.

On the other hand, a guardian is legally responsible for the care and upbringing of a minor child if the parents pass away or are unable to care for them. According to Forbes, guardianship is a significant legal role that includes making decisions about the child’s education, healthcare and general welfare.

The main reason godparents cannot automatically become guardians is that the roles are different in nature and responsibility. While godparents are chosen for their moral and spiritual guidance, guardians are chosen to take on the full parental role in case of an emergency. While there is overlap between these roles, a capable spiritual guide will not always have the time and resources to become a parent.

Choosing a guardian for your children is a complex and often emotional decision. Here are some key factors to consider:

Lifestyle Fit

Think about the potential guardian’s age and life situation. Asking someone to raise your children is a big request, and choosing someone whose lifestyle can accommodate this responsibility is essential. For example, a guardian with grown children might face a significant lifestyle adjustment if asked to care for young children again.

Location

Ideally, the guardian should live near your home. This minimizes the disruption to your child’s life, allowing them to stay in the same school and community, which can be a source of comfort during a difficult time.

Financial Circumstances

Raising children can be expensive. Make sure that the potential guardian is financially stable, and consider setting up a trust to cover your child’s expenses. This will help avoid placing a financial burden on the guardian and ensure that your child has the resources they need.

Shared Values

Choose a guardian who shares your values and parenting philosophy. While no one will be a perfect match, it’s important that the guardian can provide a similar upbringing to what you would have wanted for your child.

While many consider naming a married couple as co-guardians, it’s often simpler to name a single individual. This helps avoid complications if the couple divorces or disagrees about how to care for your child. You can also name one or more successor guardians who will take over if the primary guardian is unable or unwilling to take on the role when the time comes.

Always ask the person you want to name as guardian if they are willing to accept the role. This way, you can be sure they’re prepared and willing to take on the responsibility. Naming someone without their consent can lead to confusion and complications. In most states, you must include this information in your will to legally name a guardian for your minor children. This is a critical step to ensure that your wishes are followed and to avoid leaving the decision up to the courts.

If you don’t name a guardian in your will, the courts will decide who will take care of your children. This can lead to family disputes and result in a decision that may not align with your wishes. Naming a guardian in your will gives you control over who will care for your children and helps stabilize them during a challenging time.

Remember, godparents lack any legal rights, unless named as guardians for your minor children in your estate plan, Choosing a guardian for your children is one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent. Consult an experienced estate planning attorney to discuss your options. If you would like to learn more about guardianship, please visit our previous posts. 

Reference: Forbes (May 29, 2018) “Selecting Your Children’s Guardians Is Very Different Than Naming Their Godparents

The Estate of The Union Season 3|Episode 10

The Estate of The Union Season 3|Episode 8 is out now!

The Estate of The Union Season 3|Episode 8 is out now! We all accumulate stuff as we go through life. When someone dies, what to do with all the stuff the deceased owned can be complex and exhausting.

It can also create fights over Who Gets What. In this edition of The Estate of the Union, Brad Wiewel interviews Ann Lumley, the Director of After Life Care at Texas Trust Law. Ann has seen just about everything that can happen with an estate where stuff (otherwise known as heirlooms and collectibles) can be an issue. Ann helps dissect the problems and highlights some strategies to help avoid collisions that often occur.

 

 

In each episode of The Estate of The Union podcast, host and lawyer Brad Wiewel will give valuable insights into the confusing world of estate planning, making an often daunting subject easier to understand. It is Estate Planning Made Simple! The Estate of The Union Season 3|Episode 8 is out now! The episode can be found on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or anywhere you get your podcasts. If you would prefer to watch the video version, please visit our YouTube page. Please click on the links to listen to or watch the new installment of The Estate of The Union podcast. We hope you enjoy it.

The Estate of The Union Season |Episode 7

 

Texas Trust Law focuses its practice exclusively in the area of wills, probate, estate planning, asset protection, and special needs planning. Brad Wiewel is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. We provide estate planning services, asset protection planning, business planning, and retirement exit strategies.

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Estate Planning is Critical for a Single Parent

Estate Planning is Critical for a Single Parent

Raising a child or children by yourself is challenging on many levels. Single parents have very little spare time or resources. Estate planning is critical for a single parent, even more than if another parent was involved, as discussed in a recent article from The News-Enterprise, “Single parents must be deliberate in estate planning.”

Two key decisions to be made with minor children are who to name in a will as their guardian, the person who will raise them if the parent dies or is incapacitated, and who will be in charge of their finances. If another biological parent is involved in their care, things can get complicated.

Whether or not the other parent will be named as a guardian who will take custody of the child(ren) depends on whether or not they have any legal custody of the children. If the parents were married at one time but the marriage ended after the child was born, there is likely to be a separation agreement addressing custody.

If both parents share custody, the surviving parent would take custody of the child. This is standard practice, regardless of who has primary custody.

But if the parents never married and no one pursued an order of paternity or entered a custody order recognizing the legal rights of the noncustodial parent, or if a parent has lost any legal rights to the child, the parent needs to name a guardian and an alternate guardian.

Even if there is a surviving parent, you’ll want to name at least one guardian and one contingent guardian. There are instances when the noncustodial parent prefers not to become the custodial parent, even if the child’s other parent has died. There are also cases where the noncustodial parent is not fit to raise a child, so having other potential guardians named is a better idea.

Separate from the guardianship issue is the decision of who should manage the assets left for the child. You have a right to name the person of your choice to oversee these funds, regardless of whether or not the other parent is living. In most cases, there are two general options:

Conservator: This is a court-appointed person who is responsible for any assets left outside of a trust or any income received by the child. The conservator can be the same person as the guardian, but it does not have to be the same.

Trustee: A best practice in estate planning for a child is to leave the property in trust to be distributed for specific purposes, like education, health care, and general support. Assets can be left in trust through a last will and testament or through a trust set up while the parent is living to benefit the child.

Estate planning is critical for a single parent. An estate planning attorney should be consulted to determine how best to structure planning when there is only one parent. This protects the child and gives the parent peace of mind. If you would like to learn more about planning as a single parent, please visit our previous posts. 

Reference: The News-Enterprise (July 5, 2024) “Single parents must be deliberate in estate planning”

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Creating a Trust to Avoid Probate Nightmares

Creating a Trust to Avoid Probate Nightmares

Good estate planning ensures that your loved ones receive what you leave them without unnecessary delay or expense. However, that can go out the window when the procedure freezes your estate for months or years. Creating a trust to avoid probate nightmares can go a long way to help your loved ones once you pass.

Waiting months for probate can worsen the grief of losing a loved one. Look no further than the story of Penelope Ormerod, as told by The Guardian.

When Penelope Ormerod applied for probate on her late aunt’s estate, she expected a smooth process. Instead, she waited for seven months due to severe delays in the probate system. Recent reforms and centralization efforts had made the system more unresponsive and left her waiting. Beneficiaries, like her daughter Jessica, had dreams of funding their education on hold. This is one example of the turmoil that can ensue when your estate doesn’t avoid probate.

Trusts are powerful tools in estate planning that can prevent your family from going through similar probate ordeals. Setting up a trust means transferring your assets smoothly and quickly to your loved ones. While the traditional will process often requires probate, a trust operates outside this framework. In many cases, this saves time and reduces stress for your inheritors.

Trusts offer flexible, tailored methods for asset distribution. You can use a trust to give assets under various conditions or for specific purposes. You can establish trusts to provide your beneficiaries with lump sums or structured payouts. This ensures that beneficiaries like the Ormerod’s can avoid probate instead of waiting to receive their inheritance. Preventing delays in accessing an estate’s assets is particularly important for young families supporting minor children or ensuring that a family does not have to change their living arrangements due to court scrutiny of home ownership.

By avoiding probate, trusts can save your family stress, time and money. Probate fees and legal costs add up; setting up a trust can be a cost-effective way to pass on your assets.  Trusts can also reduce tax liabilities and get more of your money to your loved ones.

Consider creating a trust so your family can receive their inheritance when you want them to, and avoid the nightmares of a probate. If you want to get started, contact an estate planning attorney. They’ll guide you through the options and help you ensure that your loved ones get what you leave them.

Key Takeaways:

Avoid Probate Delays: Trusts can bypass the lengthy and stressful probate process. As a result, your beneficiaries will receive assets sooner and without undue stress.

Flexible Distribution Options: Trusts provide various ways to distribute assets. Choose from lump sums, structured payouts and other options that best serve your loved ones.

Cost and Time Efficiency: Trustees can save on legal fees and court costs by avoiding probate through a trust. Trusts may also reduce tax liability for your beneficiaries.

Secure Your Legacy: Setting up a trust with the help of an estate planning attorney helps safeguard your wishes when you’re gone.

If you would like to learn more about probate, and how to avoid it, please visit our previous posts.

References: The Guardian (May 2, 2021) “Grieving relatives despair at months of waiting for probate”

SmartAsset (August 25, 2023) “How Does a Beneficiary Get Money From a Trust?

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Diverse Family Structures Have Unique Estate Planning Challenges

Diverse Family Structures Have Unique Estate Planning Challenges

American family law has traditionally focused on the nuclear family. However, Forbes reports that only 18% of American adults now fit this model. There are many new types of families today, such as blended families, single-parent households and LGBTQ+ families. Dated legal definitions of family could be a hurdle in your estate planning. Diverse family structures have unique estate planning challenges. However, it’s a hurdle you can overcome with knowledge and legal guidance.

Most legal protections and rights cater to the assumption that a family is a married couple with blood children. This alone creates obstacles for many families, even those that look traditional. Many heterosexual couples have children but haven’t yet married. This can deprive them of various rights and may exclude partners from inheritance.

Blended families with stepchildren also frequently struggle with inheritance. If the parents fail to lay out the rights of the children, it can go to a lengthy probate process. Likewise, the children of single parents face a uniquely uncertain future should their parents die unexpectedly. Another diverse family type that frequently struggles with family law is LGBTQ+ families. The rights of same-sex couples vary widely by state, which makes estate planning especially important for them.

These diverse families and more can find themselves underserved by laws that don’t have them in mind. However, that doesn’t mean that their wishes must go un-respected. There are many estate planning tools available that can help people clarify and execute their wishes once they’re gone.

Advanced estate planning techniques can give anyone greater control of their estate.  Everyone with a significant estate or minor children should have an estate plan. However, diverse families need to use these tools to safeguard their wishes.

  • Wills: A well-drafted will is Step One. It makes it far easier to ensure that your assets go to your inheritors as you wish.
  • Trusts: Trusts offer greater control over asset distribution while avoiding will-related pitfalls. Living trusts can be adjusted during one’s lifetime, while irrevocable trusts protect assets but are permanent.
  • Powers of attorney: Financial and healthcare powers of attorney let a trusted person decide if the primary individual is incapacitated.
  • Testamentary guardianship: Single-parent, blended families and same-sex couples should appoint guardians for minor children in their wills.
  • Beneficiary Designations: Designate the beneficiaries for life insurance, retirement and investment accounts. This ensures that the executor of your will transfers assets according to your wishes.

The evolving definition of family challenges conventional estate planning. Unmarried couples, blended families and other non-traditional arrangements often need tailored estate plans. However, untangling estate law on your own isn’t easy.

Diverse family structures have unique estate planning challenges. Schedule a consultation with an estate planning attorney, who will address local laws and your unique family structure, to craft a comprehensive estate plan. If you would like to learn more about planning for blended families, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: Forbes (April 2, 2024) How Expanding The Legal Definition Of Family Helps Us All

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Understanding Your Options and Responsibilities when Inheriting a House

Understanding Your Options and Responsibilities when Inheriting a House

Understanding your options and responsibilities is critical when inheriting a house, whether you sell it, keep it, or rent it out. Insights from LendingTree show you how to make the most of your inheritance. Inheriting a house can be a life-changing event with emotional and financial implications.

When inheriting a house, you don’t immediately receive the title in your name. The inheritance process involves probate, where a judge reviews the will and appoints an executor to carry out the deceased’s will. The executor handles responsibilities like insurance, identifying debts or liens and paying utilities. They also distribute belongings and manage property taxes. This ensures that the estate’s assets settle any outstanding debts before you receive ownership.

When you’re in line to inherit a home, there are five steps you should take immediately.

  1. Communicate with the Executor: Establish a clear line of communication with the executor. This will help you learn the necessary information and simplify the transfer process.
  2. Coordinate with Co-Heirs: Work with the others if you are one of several heirs. Avoid costly disputes by deciding whether to sell, keep, or rent the property.
  3. Get an Appraisal: An appraisal calculates the property’s value. This informs your decision to keep, sell, or rent the home while informing you of tax liabilities.
  4. Evaluate Debts: Identify any liens or debts tied to the property and compare them against the house’s value. Understand the financial implications and incorporate that into your decision.
  5. Seek Professional Advice: Consult estate planning attorneys, accountants and financial advisors. These professionals can clarify ownership-related problems, such as debt obligations and inheritance taxes.

Moving into the inherited house can provide a new residence or vacation home. However, this option can be costly due to mortgages, taxes, repairs and insurance. Renting out the property can provide passive income, while keeping it in the family. Buy out other heirs or work with them to share costs and rental income. Selling the house is a straightforward way to obtain immediate cash. The proceeds can help pay off debts tied to the house, and the remaining proceeds will go to the heirs.

If debts and taxes are associated with the house, that doesn’t mean you need to sell. There are many ways to finance the home and keep your inheritance.

  • Mortgage Assumption: Take over the existing mortgage if its terms are better than what you’d get with a new loan. The lender must approve the assumption.
  • New Purchase or Refinance Mortgage: You can obtain a new mortgage or refinance to put the house in your name. This option is particularly useful when the property has a reverse mortgage.Prop
  • Cash-Out Refinance: Refinance the mortgage with a cash-out option to tap into the home’s equity to cover expenses, like buying out heirs or making repairs.
  • Investment Property Loan: Mortgage an investment property if you plan to rent the house.

Key Takeaways:

  • Inheriting a House: The probate court oversees the inheritance process, and the executor handles legal and financial responsibilities.
  • Options: Move in, rent out, or sell the property based on financial goals and agreements with co-heirs.
  • Financing: Explore mortgage assumptions, new or refinanced mortgages and other financing options.

Understanding your options and responsibilities when inheriting a house requires legal, financial and practical knowledge. Consult with an experienced estate planning attorney as soon as you can. If you would like to learn more about inheriting property, please visit our previous posts. 

Reference: LendingTree (Nov. 16, 2021) “Inheriting a House? Here’s What to Expect”

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Updating Beneficiaries after Gray Divorce

Updating Beneficiaries after Gray Divorce

Navigating the complexities of estate planning after a mid- to late-life divorce, or “gray divorce,” requires meticulous attention to detail and proactive measures, according to Kiplinger’s article, Don’t Forget to Update Beneficiaries After a Gray Divorce. Updating beneficiaries after a gray divorce is critical to estate planning. This article explores essential considerations for those undergoing a gray divorce, emphasizing the importance of reevaluating estate plans to reflect current intentions and relationships.

While family law attorneys primarily focus on asset division during divorce proceedings, it’s imperative to consider the fate of these assets post-divorce, particularly concerning beneficiaries. Updating beneficiaries on investment accounts, retirement funds and life insurance policies is paramount. Failure to do so could result in unintended consequences, potentially leaving assets to a former spouse.

Many states have statutes that automatically revoke a former spouse as a beneficiary post-divorce. However, these laws vary, and some exceptions exist, notably under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) plans. Understanding the nuances of state laws and ERISA regulations is vital to ensure compliance and avoid costly mistakes.

In some divorces, waivers might be used in decrees to address survivorship benefits related to retirement plans. The effectiveness of these waivers relies on adherence to plan documents and detailed planning. Consulting with a knowledgeable estate planning attorney and incorporating specific language in property settlement agreements can mitigate risks and ensure comprehensive protection of assets.

Key Takeaways:

  • Proactive Approach: Do not wait until after your divorce is finalized to update your beneficiaries. Proactively review and revise beneficiary designations on all relevant accounts.
  • Understanding State Laws: Familiarize yourself with your state’s automatic revocation laws and how they affect beneficiary designations. Ensure that these laws align with your post-divorce intentions.
  • Consulting with Professionals: Consult with an experienced estate planning attorney to navigate the complexities of beneficiary updates and ensure compliance with state laws and ERISA regulations.
  • Detailed Planning: Use specific language in property settlement agreements to address survivorship benefits associated with retirement plans and other assets. Attention to detail is essential to avoid potential conflicts and ensure that your wishes are upheld.

In conclusion, updating beneficiaries after a gray divorce is critical to estate planning. By taking proactive measures, understanding relevant laws and seeking professional guidance, you can protect your assets and secure the financial future of your loved ones. Ready to embark on your post-divorce estate planning journey? Schedule a consultation today and gain peace of mind knowing that your assets are in trusted hands. If you would like to learn more about divorce and reevaluating your estate planning, please visit our previous posts. 

Reference: Kiplinger (April 15, 2024) Don’t Forget to Update Beneficiaries After a Gray Divorce

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Topics You need to Address before a Mid-Life Marriage

Topics You need to Address before a Mid-Life Marriage

Today’s wedding couple is as likely to be 30 or 50 years old as they are to be in their twenties. This trend underscores the importance of having open discussions about finances and retirement before exchanging vows. A recent article from Next Avenue, “The Talk Over-50s Should Have Before Tying the Knot.” Whether you’re getting married for the first time or the second, being closer to retirement has major financial implications. There are topics you need to address before a mid-life marriage.

The most important thing is to disclose each person’s financial situation completely. For some people, this includes their retirement goals and lifestyle choices. What are the potential healthcare issues? Is there debt to be considered? How are each managing their investments?

If both people own homes, a plan for going forward needs to ask a simple question: where will the couple live? Will one sell their home or turn it into a rental property? If it is sold, will the seller retain all the income, or will they buy into ownership of the joint residence? Emotional attachments to homes can make this a difficult discussion, but it needs to be addressed.

Getting married changes each spouse’s legal status, meaning estate plans must be updated. If both have an existing estate plan, it needs to be reviewed. Powers of Attorney, Healthcare Proxy, and other estate planning documents must also be updated.

While reviewing and revising estate plans, don’t neglect to check on any accounts with named beneficiaries. More than a few ex-spouses have received insurance proceeds or accounts because someone neglected to update these accounts. The named beneficiary overrides anything in your will, which is critical to updating the estate plan.

If you both have children from prior marriages, meeting with an estate planning attorney to determine how to manage property distribution is another critical step before getting married. You may wish to create and fund trusts before marriage, so assets remain separate property. There are as many different types of trusts as there are family situations, from keeping assets separate to providing for a surviving spouse while ensuring biological children receive their inheritance (SLAT), or family trusts where assets are moved into the trust for the surviving spouse to allocate assets to heirs based on their needs.

Social Security planning should also be part of the discussion. If one spouse is a widow who was receiving survivor benefits, they could lose those benefits when they get married.

Talk with an estate planning attorney to address these topics before a mid-life marriage. That way you fully understand your situation and ensure you and your spouse are ready for the changes and challenges of your senior years together. If you would like to learn more about mid-life or second marriages and estate planning, please visit our previous posts. 

Reference: Next Avenue (March 14, 2024) “The Talk Over-50s Should Have Before Tying the Knot”

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Information in our blogs is very general in nature and should not be acted upon without first consulting with an attorney. Please feel free to contact Texas Trust Law to schedule a complimentary consultation.
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