Remarriage – Money Discussions and Impact on Estate Planning

In this ongoing series, Getting Real, we talk about the Tough Talks estate planning lawyers undertake with their clients.  Remarriage is a common topic.  We previously discussed the high percentage of people that remarry or enter into a partnership after they are 55 years old. This statistic has increased over time as we pointed out... [Read More]

Remarriage – Partner: Getting Real in Estate Planning

In our last blog (Getting Real in Estate Planning: Tough Talks), we wrote about the difficult or sensitive conversations estate planning lawyers have with their clients. It’s what we must do to ensure your estate planning goals are achieved which is why listening and knowing what to ask are so important.  The first topic we... [Read More]

Getting Real in Estate Planning: Tough Talks

A lot of what we do, is hear great stories. We meet fabulous individuals, and hear a lot about their kids and their interesting stories about their lives and how they became successful and can now leave something to their loved ones. This is a positive in estate planning. The other side of Estate Planning... [Read More]

Part 2: For richer or poorer: financial vows

“For richer or poorer…” those infamous four words that have been repeated in many spousal arguments and probably in many divorces as well.  At the time we say them, we wish to give our partner and our children or future children, everything we have. However, when it comes to designating your financial helpers, one should... [Read More]

Part 1: In sickness and in health: healthcare vows

Healthcare Authorities: different from marriage vows Everyone knows the traditional marriage vows and the portion “for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health,” the words to indicate to your partner that you will be there through thick and thin. When people prepare their Estate Planning documents, they often name each... [Read More]

Estate Planning for Blended Families

“Yours, Mine and Ours” was the title of a cute movie regarding parents who marry with children from a previous marriage. However, in real life, it can be a complicated issue when it comes to Estate Planning. Studies show that in 2013, 40% of the marriages included at least one spouse who had already been... [Read More]

Remarriage & Estate Planning

Sixty-six year old musician Billy Joel married his 34-year-old girlfriend on July 4th. When someone who has been married before, has children from a previous marriage, and their own assets, they will have to account for the remarriage in their Estate Plan. They may do a new Living Trust aka Revocable Living Trust. They also... [Read More]