Austin, TX estates planning & probate attorney Kyle Robbins explains the basics about estate planning for a blended family. He notes that estate planning for blended families is more complex, and increasingly common today as many spouses enter marriages with children from previous relationships. One of the primary goals is to avoid a situation where one spouse leaves all of their assets to the other, only for that surviving spouse to have a plan that unintentionally disinherits the first spouse’s children.

He explains that without a proper plan, the default rules often lead to the first spouse’s children being left out. When working with blended families, he guides them through strategies to ensure this never happens. The focus is on providing for the surviving spouse while also protecting the interests of both sets of children, ensuring that assets are distributed according to the family’s intentions after the surviving spouse passes.

Ultimately, his goal is to make certain that everyone is on the same page and that the estate plan will function as intended, balancing the needs of the surviving spouse and all children involved.