A friend recently shared a difficult situation with me. Her mother and stepfather had created a trust while both were alive, dividing everything equally among their children from previous marriages. When her stepfather passed away first, her mother decided, “I’m not giving his kids anything—they were always mean to us.” She went to an attorney, created a new estate plan, and disinherited her stepchildren.
Now that her mother has passed, my friend is faced with delivering the news to her step-siblings that they will not inherit anything. Legally, her mother had the right to do this because the original trust left everything to the surviving spouse, granting her full control over the assets.
If you’re in a blended family and want to ensure that your children receive their rightful inheritance, your trust must be structured to prevent changes like this. Without the right protections, your spouse may legally alter the plan after you’re gone.
If you want to safeguard your children’s inheritance, let’s talk.
