Estate Planning for Blended Families

How to use estate planning to protect your spouse or partner and children from different relationships.

What is Estate Planning for a Blended Family?

  • A "Blended Family" includes married couples or domestic partners with children from different relationships.


  • Estate planning for a blended family is designed to prevent conflicts among family members and to protect the children of both spouses or partners.


  • Review two types of estate plans that are specifically designed for blended families below

What is Estate Planning for a Blended Family?

A "Blended Family" includes married couples or domestic partners with children from different relationships.


Estate planning for a blended family is designed to prevent conflicts among family members and to protect the children of both spouses or partners.


Review two types of estate plans that are specifically designed for blended families below

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What is Estate Planning for a Blended Family?

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Basic Estate Plan

for Blended Families

N/A for 1 person

$2,450 for 2 persons

  • What Is It?

    Includes everything in the Basic Estate Plan for Children, plus an additional trust to manage property separately for the children of each parent in a blended family.

  • What's Included?

    ●  Consultation to customize your plan


    ●  Last will & testament


    ●  A separate revocable trust for the children of each spouse


    ●  All instructions and forms needed by the trustee to administer each trust


    ●  Power of attorney


    ●  Healthcare directive


    ●  Appointment of guardian


    ●  Appointment of funeral representative


    ●  Estate planning roadmap


    ●  Heavy duty binder for original documents and flash drive for copies

  • Who's It Designed For?

    Parents of blended families who:


    ●  Have children from previous relationships 


    ●  Do not desire to avoid probate


    ●  Desire to set aside assets (e.g. life insurance or retirement accounts) solely for their children


    ●  Need a complete estate plan for children at a lower cost than our Living Trust Plan for Blended Familes

  • Why You'll Love It

    ●  Lowest cost complete estate plan to manage assets for young children of each parent in a blended family


    ●  Ensures that children will be financially stable without meddling by a former spouse or partner


    ●  Completely customized documents to your specifications


    ●  Designate separate trustees to manage property for children of each parent until a specified age


    ●  Designate separate guardians to care for children of each parent until adulthood


    ●  Feel confident that your assets will be handled for children as you direct


    ●  Includes instructions and forms to guide trustees to handle trust property 

Living Trust Plan

for Blended Families

N/A for 1 person

$3,750 for 2 persons

  • What Is It?

    Includes everything in the Living Trust Plan, plus two (2) additional trusts to manage property separately for the children of each parent in a blended family.

  • What's Included?

    ●  Consultation to customize your plan


    ●  Joint revocable trust for both parents


    ●  Separate revocable trusts for each parent's children


    ●  Certificate of trust for each trust


    ●  Authorization to disclose medical information


    ●  Warranty deed to fund trust


    ●  Assignment of personal property to trust


    ●  Agreement to transfer business assets to trust


    ●  Trust funding instructions


    ●  All documents needed by the trustee to administer each trust (trustee instructions, acceptance of trust, certificate of trust, notice to beneficiaries, and notice to creditors)


    ●  Pour-over will 


    ●  Power of attorney


    ●  Healthcare directive


    ●  Appointment of guardian


    ●  Appointment of funeral representative


    ●  Estate planning roadmap


    ●  Heavy duty binder for original documents and flash drive for copies

  • Who's It Designed For?

    Designed for parents of blended families who:


    ●  Desire to avoid probate


    ●  Have children from previous relationships


    ●  Desire to set aside and manage assets solely for their own children


    ●  Need a complete estate plan to manage property for children

  • Why You'll Love It

    ●  Comprehensive estate plan to manage and distribute separate trust assets to any number of beneficiaries without probate


    ●  Ensures that children will be financially stable without meddling by a former spouse or partner


    ●  Completely customized documents to your specifications


    ●  Provides maximum control over distribution and administration of trust assets for blended families


    ●  Designate separate trustees to handle estate administration for children of each parent


    ●  Designate separate guardians to care for children of each parent


    ●  Feel confident that your assets will be distributed as you direct


    ●  Includes instructions and forms to guide trustees to handle trust property without an attorney

  • Basic Estate Plan for Blended Families


    • Designed for couples with children from a prior relationship who want to provide separate financial support for their own children
    • Lower cost than a "Living Trust Plan for Blended Families" (see below)
    • Includes a will for each parent, and a separate trust for each parent's children
    • Allows parents to allocate funds for themselves, and for their respective children
    • Ensures property is managed for children by a trusted person
    • Probate is required for post-death distribution of non-financial assets (real estate, vehicles, etc.)

    Details About This Plan >>>

  • Living Trust Plan for Blended Families


    • Designed for couples with children from a prior relationship who want to provide separate financial support for their own children
    • Includes a joint trust for both parents, and a separate trust for each parent's children
    • Allows parents to allocate funds for themselves, and for their respective children
    • Ensures property is managed for children by a trusted person
    • Probate is not required for distribution of property

    Details About This Plan >>>

What are the benefits of

Core Estate Plans?

Affordable

We have decades of experience with estate planning. Based on this experience, we know what most people want and need from their estate plan. We have created six Core Estate Plans to meet these demands. By combining everything you need in a comprehensive plan, we are able to keep costs low and give you a firm quote for our services before you proceed. We save time, and you save money. 

Convenient

Completing a Core Estate Plan is simple and convenient. You can even begin your estate plan from home. Office consultations are preferred, but we will gladly accommodate meetings by phone or video. Once your documents are ready, we will post them in a secure client portal for your review. You can request changes from there, and we will post updated documents. By the time you are ready to sign at our office, all changes should be complete. At your request, we will prepare your documents to be signed outside of our office by using our instructions. Nothing could be easier.  

Comprehensive

Core Esate Plans are comprehensive solutions to the most common estate planning problems. Every family is different, so we offer a wide variety of solutions for every situation and budget. With our guidance, you can rest assured that your estate plan will work when you need it.

Customizable

Core Estate Plans are infinitely customizable to meet your needs. These are just a few of the elements of Core Estate Plans that can be customized for you:


  • Distribution of assets
  • Children's trust
  • Pet trust
  • Cash gifts
  • Charitable gifts
  • Real estate gifts
  • Option to purchase real estate
  • Intangible property gifts
  • Personal property gifts
  • Fiduciary appointments and duties
  • Compensation of fiduciaries

Adaptable

Core Estate Plans can be adapted to work with other elements of your estate plan. We can easily include other trusts and documents to work with your Core Estate Plan (additional fees may apply). These are a few examples:


  • Life Estate Trust
  • Cottage Trust
  • Medicaid Trust
  • Asset Protection Trust
  • Special Needs Trust
  • Supplemental Trusts
  • Pre-Nuptial Agreements
  • Business Succession Planning

Understandable

Core Estate Plans are easy to understand. We don't use complicated legalease. During our consultation, each client receives an "Estate Planning Guide" that explains how estate planning works and the elements of each Core Estate Plan. We won't conclude your consultation until you are able to make fully informed choices about your estate plan.

Workable

Core Estate Plans work when you need them to. There are two reasons for this:


1.  Each plan includes checklists and instructions to coordinate your assets with your estate planning documents. No client leaves our office without understanding how their estate plan works, how to implement it, and how to update their assets over time. 


2.  For Plans 4, 5, and 6, we provide instructions for your fiduciaries to administer your estate in the event of your death. These instructions will allow your family to carry out your estate plan without professional help.  

Long-Term Value

When you work with us, you are a client for life. We are glad to answer questions about your estate plan that arise long after you leave our office - at no additional cost. We don't charge annual subscription fees like many firms. We will only charge a fee to adjust your documents as the need arises. Finally, we make every effort to make sure your estate plan will stand the test of time. Redundancies are built in to every fiduciary appointment and asset distribution plan. 

Backed by Experience

Core Estate Plans are backed by experience. Our attorneys have met with thousands of clients, and drafted countless estate planning documents. We can recommend what you need based on real-life experience with other families in similar situations. We like a new challenge, but you probably cannot give us one.

More Estate Planning Options

  • Estate Planning for Young Children

    Young children are one of the most important reasons for estate planning. Selecting a trustee and guardian to provide care and financial support for children is especially critical. Follow the link below for an overview of estate planning for children.


    Estate Planning for

    Children >>>

  • Estate Planning for Persons with Disabilities

    Estate planning for disabled persons presents unique challenges with respect to preservation of government benefits, now or in the future.  Click the link below to learn more about this type of planning. 


    Estate Planning for

    Persons with Disabilities >>>  

  • Estate Planning for Pets

    Pets are an important part of many families. Michigan law allows for care and support of pets to be provided for in an estate plan. Click the link below to find out more.  


    Estate Planning

    for Pets >>>

  • Planning for Asset Protection

    Asset protection planning can be used to manage a wide variety of risks. Follow the link below for an overview of asset protection trusts.


    Estate Planning for

    Asset Protection >>>

  • Estate Planning with Real Estate

    Real estate presents many unique challenges because there are so many ways to transfer property with an estate plan. Go to the page below to learn more about these options. 


    Estate Planning with

    Real Estate >>>

  • Estate Planning for Business Owners

    Business ownership must be specifically addressed in your estate plan. A business with multiple owners presents unique issues that must be discussed. Follow the link below for an overview of business succession planning.  


    Business Succession

    Planning >>>

  • Planning for Long Term Care (Medicaid)

    How to pay for long term care in a nursing home is a valid concern for many people.  Medicaid is a government program that pays for long term care for eligible persons.  Find out more at the link below. 


    Planning for 

    Long Term Care >>>

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