The Pitfalls Of Estate Planning Law For The Blended Family

Divorce and remarriage are now so common in our country that blended families have become the new norm. When two adults marry and either one or both of them have children from a previous relationship, the complications of dying without a will can lead to heartache and bitterness when a spouse dies. It's imperative that both adults have proper plans in place that follow estate planning law guidelines. If you've remarried and haven't yet met with a will lawyer, now is the time to get started.

Sudden Death Leads To Complications

While we all want to believe that a second spouse will take care of our children from a previous marriage, this is often not the case when one dies unexpectedly, particularly if there is a vindictive or angry ex in the picture. If a partner dies intestate, the surviving spouse may hold all the financial cards and could leave the decedent's children from a previous marriage out in the cold. On the other hand, if one person dies and has an old will in place that leaves everything to his former wife and their kids together, the new wife or husband and his or her descendents could be financially devastated. It's always best to talk to estate attorneys who are familiar with the myriad of inheritance statutes in your state so that they can help you address issues you may not have even thought about.

Estate Attorneys Can Set Up Trusts To Benefit Everyone

In many situations, a trust is the best way to protect all parties in a blended family, including new spouses, kids from either partner's previous relationships, and any new children born after the new family is forged. If a man dies after remarrying and has the appropriate trust in place, his widow could live comfortably on the proceeds of a trust that would then go to his children when she passes away. A will lawyer can help you set up a trust that is administered for the benefit of your surviving partner as well as kids from any prior relationships and your current relationship, ensuring that no one is left financially devastated.

Buy Property on St Croix, US Virgin Islands and Live Your Vacation Dreams

Have you been vacationing in the Caribbean and dreaming of owning your own home and enjoying living a Caribbean lifestyle year round? Then buying a piece of paradise in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands may be the solution for you. St. Croix is a U.S. Territory and is protected by the laws of the United States of America. It is the largest of the three U.S. Virgin Islands, and has many vacation activities to explore. You can enjoy all kinds of water sports from snorkeling and wind surfing to world class scuba diving, sailing, and deep sea fishing, You can explore eco-tourism, with kayak tours of Salt River Bay National Park and Ecological Preserve. Or go shopping in the historical towns of Christiansted and Frederiksted, and while there take a walking tour and learn more about the historical buildings located in both towns. World class golf is available at the Carambola Golf and Country Club, and fine dining available at the many restaurants on St. Croix.

If you buy property for sale on St. Croix, then you'll be living in a place where you could pick a different water sport for each day of the week. Although the island is the largest of the U. S. Virgin Islands, the beaches are only minutes away. If you have your own boat, you're on nobody's time table but your own. However, you can also charter a boat for a day trip to the Buck Island Reef National Monument, the only underwater National Monument in the National Park Service. There you can snorkel the underwater trail, or scuba dive and enjoy this gem of the Caribbean.