Family law practitioners agree that few things can cause an inheritance fight like a second marriage. So when you consider these statistics:
- 90 percent of Americans marry
- 50 percent of married couples divorce
- 70 percent of the divorced get remarried
- 60 percent of second marriages end in divorce
You can quickly see what that means in term of sheer numbers of families ripe for potential inheritance squabbles.
Financial planners and legal experts both agree that they are seeing more friction between adult children and their parents due to remarriage and mixed families. They also agree that to keep peace in the family requires both good estate planning and open communication
How can you avoid family friction and the potential legal battles that loom if you remarry? Obviously, there is no one solution that will fit every family, but the consideration of legal instruments like prenuptial agreements, post nuptial agreements and other estate planning tools can help you keep the family waters smooth and navigable.
Careful estate planning, however, is just half the equation. You must also be willing to share your estate plans with family members so you can deal with any potential negative reactions in advance. Doing so may save your heirs from spending a lot of time and money in court.
Contact our Orange County law firm to learn more about keeping peace in the family through estate planning.