Planning for Blended Families

Colin Barrett
Jun 3
2 min read

Navigating the challenges of modern family life through thoughtful estate planning.

Modern Families Need Modern Planning

Second marriages, stepchildren, cohabiting partners; families today are more diverse than ever. While that brings richness, it also brings complexity when it comes to inheritance.

This article explores how you can balance fairness, clarity, and long-term protection for everyone you care about.

1. Children from Previous Relationships

One of the most common concerns in blended families is: "How can I provide for my current partner without disinheriting my children from a previous relationship?"

Leaving everything to your partner may seem logical, but it gives them full control. If they later remarry, have more children, or change their Will, your children may receive nothing.

Solution: A Life Interest Trust allows your partner to benefit during their lifetime, while protecting your children's future inheritance.

2. Stepchildren: Are They Protected?

Unless you name them in your Will, stepchildren have no automatic right to inherit from you.

Solution: Be clear about your intentions. Include stepchildren explicitly if you wish to provide for them, and consider using trusts to guide how and when they receive their inheritance.

3. When Fair Isn’t Equal

Many blended families choose to leave different amounts to different children — often because:

They’ve supported one child more already
Some children are younger or more dependent
They want to reflect individual circumstances

Solution: Fairness doesn’t always mean a 50/50 split. Be intentional in your planning, and consider including a Letter of Wishes to help explain your decisions to future generations.

4. Cohabiting Partners and Second Spouses

Did you know a cohabiting partner has no legal right to inherit unless they are named in your Will?

Even married partners can override your wishes if the Will is not carefully drafted, particularly when it comes to your children from a previous relationship.

Solution: Use a Will and appropriate trusts to protect everyone’s interests — and consider cohabitation or post-nuptial agreements for added clarity.

5. Choosing the Right Executors and Trustees

Blended families can bring sensitive dynamics. If one “side” of the family controls everything, it can lead to disputes.

Solution: Appoint trusted individuals, or professionals, to act impartially. This helps ensure your wishes are carried out fairly and reduces potential conflict.

Final Thought

Estate planning for blended families isn’t one-size-fits-all. But with the right legal structures and clear instructions, you can make sure no one is left behind — and that your legacy reflects the life you’ve built.