Blended families have become the most common form of family today, and this article explains what impact a parent’s remarriage could have on their children’s inheritance. When a person die’s they typically have both probate and non-probate assets. If the decedent had a will then the probate assets will typically be distributed in accordance with the terms of that will, and if there is no will then they will be distributed according to the governing state intestacy laws. The non-probate assets will typically pass to the joint survivor or named beneficiary. Experienced estate planners should be familiar with the rules and requirements of the state that they work in. The rules and regulations can vary from state to state, and the probate process can often become complex, and this is especially true as it concerns blended families.
See Kyle E. Krull, How Will My Client’s Father’s Remarriage Impact His Inheritance?, Wealth Management, April 18, 2016.
Special thanks to Jim Hillhouse for bringing this article to my attention.
