Life has a way of surprising us with the way it changes and develops over time. The first time you got married, you probably thought it would last a lifetime. You probably planned your family and maybe even your estate in Florida with your spouse. However, you wound up divorced. Now, you’re in love again, and you’re ready to make a commitment.
Remarrying can be a wonderful thing. If you have children, your new spouse can help provide a more stable and happy home. If you don’t have children, remarrying may be a way to change that. Even if you are past the age of starting a family, a new spouse can provide you with companionship, love and support for many years to come.
You likely want to provide the same things for your spouse. One of the best ways to provide security for a new spouse is to update your last will or estate plan to include them in the event that something unexpected happens. If you don’t currently have a last will or estate plan, creating one when you marry again is probably a good idea.
Intestate succession becomes more complicated for blended families
Every state has its own way of handling situations when someone dies without a last will on record. When someone dies intestate or without a will the probate courts must decide how to split their assets among their family members and relatives. If you have children and a spouse who is not their biological parent, succession can be complex and fraught with contention.
Both your spouse and your kids may have their own ideas about what is fair, and neither of those ideas will likely line up exactly with probate law. Creating a will and ensuring that both your spouse and your children are familiar with its contents can help prevent conflict that could undermine your legacy in the future. Talking with everyone about your plans reduces the chances of a future probate battle.
A thorough estate plan gives your new spouse security
If you owned the marital home prior to marriage, your spouse may not have the right to stay in the home that you shared after you die. Can you imagine anything more tragic than being forced out of your home shortly after losing a loved one?
You don’t want to leave your new spouse in that position. Taking the time to create an estate plan that protects your loved one will give both you and your new spouse a sense of security about the future. After all, it is always good to know that the people we care for most will have the care and resources they need when we aren’t there to provide it for them.
