Chesapeake Diverse Family Estate Planning Lawyer
Families today look much different from 50 years ago. Many people have children from one marriage and then enter into another, creating a blended family. It is also becoming more common today for people to live together for many years before getting married. Some people never officially marry, even though they live like a married couple. Our Chesapeake diverse family estate planning lawyer is proud to help non-traditional and blended families, cohabitating couples, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Estate Planning Issues for Blended Families
Blended families are those that have at least one parent who has children that are not biologically related to their spouse. Parents in blended families are often in their second or third marriage and this poses different estate planning challenges. For example, traditionally property and assets are left to the surviving spouse who then provides for the children. In blended families, someone may leave behind a spouse as well as children from a previous relationship. Comprehensive estate planning is even more necessary in these situations to avoid unfair treatment and disagreements.
Another unique challenge for blended families is the issue of guardianship. Traditionally, the surviving spouse would continue to care for the child if their other parent passed away. When the surviving spouse is a stepparent, though, the issue becomes much more complicated.
Estate Planning Issues for Unmarried Couples
Unmarried couples do not have the same automatic rights when their spouse passes away. This means that if one party passes away, the other will not have an automatic right to their property, and they will not be able to make decisions for their partner if they become incapacitated. Additionally, if the decedent had children from a previous relationship, their partner may not have any guardian rights.
A thorough estate plan can clearly define how assets are to be treated upon a person’s death, and make sure that all family members are provided for. A will can stipulate who is to act as guardian for minor children, even if they are not biologically related to the surviving partner.
Estate Planning Issues for LGBTQ+ Families
People in the LGBTQ+ community will face many challenges without proper estate planning. Married same-sex couples have all the same legal rights as heterosexual couples, but it is still important to create an estate plan that can provide guidance in the future. This is particularly important when only one parent is biologically related to a child in the marriage. Estate planning can also provide for one spouse to be a power of attorney so they can make important decisions for the other spouse if they become incapacitated.
Unmarried LGBTQ+ couples, on the other hand, will face all the same challenges as unmarried heterosexual couples, and perhaps even more.
Our Diverse Family Estate Planning Lawyer in Chesapeake Can Help
Diverse families are a blessing, but they do face some unique issues. At The Law Office of Angela N. Manz, our Chesapeake diverse family estate planning lawyer can help you overcome the challenges you may face now or in the future to ensure your entire family is protected. Call us now at 757-271-6275 or contact us online to schedule a consultation and to get the legal advice you need.
