Law Office of Leo J. Keenan III, P.A.
 Call Now For A Free Consultation: 410-970-4306
  • Home
  • About
    • Leo J. Keenan III
  • Practice Areas
    • Family Law
    • Divorce
    • High–Asset Divorce
    • Wills And Estates
    • Probate
    • Automobile Accidents
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
    • Leo J. Keenan III
  • Practice Areas
    • Family Law
    • Divorce
    • High–Asset Divorce
    • Wills And Estates
    • Probate
    • Automobile Accidents
  • Blog
  • Contact
Law Office of Leo J. Keenan III, P.A.

 410-970-4306

 Email

A Lawyer Who Is Experienced, Dependable, Attentive And Effective

  1. Home
  2.  – 
  3. Estate Planning
  4.  – 
  5. Guide to estate planning for blended families

Guide to estate planning for blended families

On Behalf of Law Office of Leo J. Keenan III, P.A. | Nov 28, 2020 | Estate Planning |

It is always a good idea to communicate your wishes in the event of your death or incapacitation by creating an estate plan. However, it becomes even more important when you are part of an extended family, i.e., you or your spouse has children from a previous relationship. 

You do not want to disenfranchise your children but at the same time, you have a responsibility to provide for your current spouse. Fortunately, with some careful planning and consideration, it is possible to do both. 

Check beneficiary designations

Following your divorce, you should check the beneficiary designations on your retirement plans and life insurance policies. Make sure that they are up to date and consistent with the terms of your divorce agreement. 

Update estate planning documents

If you initially made your estate plan during your first marriage, you may have named your ex-spouse as the power of attorney, health care proxy or executor of your will. Fortunately, you can update these at any time, and now that you have remarried, you should make sure that these reflect your current situation if you have not already. Be sure that you explicitly mention your children from your previous relationship. They may not stand to inherit otherwise. 

Consider a trust

Creating a trust, such as a qualified terminable interest property trust, allows you to leave an inheritance to your children while still providing for your surviving spouse. Your spouse is the sole beneficiary of your QTIP trust as long as he or she is still alive. The assets then pass to your children, or whomever else you name as beneficiaries, after your spouse’s death. 

Following your death, conflicts may arise among different branches of your family tree. Expressing your wishes beforehand may help keep these under control. 

Recent Posts

  • How can you protect retirement assets in divorce?
  • How does Maryland handle legal separations?
  • Understanding Maryland’s domestic violence protective order
  • How does Maryland calculate child support?
  • How to drive safely as the weather turns to winter

Archives

Categories

RSS Feed

Subscribe To This Blog’s Feed

LetMr. Keenan Guide You

Law Office of Leo J. Keenan III, P.A.
Office Address

1121 Liberty Road
Eldersburg, MD 21784

  Eldersburg Law Office

Phone Number

410-970-4306

© 2025 Law Office of Leo J. Keenan III, P.A. • All Rights Reserved

Disclaimer | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Business Development Solutions by FindLaw

  • Follow
Write A Review