Planning for a crisis is critical when you have minor children. While every adult needs their own incapacity plan—a financial power of attorney and a patient advocate designation, at the very least—minor children also need these documents in case their parents or guardians cannot care for them temporarily. 

All adults, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation, need estate planning. For LGBTQ+ couples, however, failing to have a well-crafted plan in place can present additional risks. Treetown Law is committed to serving the unique needs of every family—and to ensuring your family relationships are honored and protected through estate planning.

While estate planning is important for every family, it becomes even more important for couples in second or subsequent marriages. New relationships that grow later in life can be wonderfully fulfilling, but the children and assets each partner brings to the family can create complexities. A thoughtfully-crafted estate plan can bring harmony to blended families by assuring all members will be treated fairly.

You’ve made it to the end of your divorce journey, and you are ready for a fresh start. Congratulations! Your new, post-divorce estate plan is an integral part of the new life you are creating, and it is a critical final step in the process of untangling your life from that of your ex. Here are five things to keep in mind when planning your estate after divorce.

During this transition between deciding to end your marriage and the finalization of your divorce, not having an estate plan—or not updating a plan you created with your spouse—can prove especially risky.

When you were pregnant, you meticulously watched your diet and researched the safety ratings of all the car seats. When your baby was born, you bought BPA-free bottles and toys. And unlike your parents in the 80s and 90s, you put a helmet on your kid when they learned how to scooter or bike.

When it comes to your child, you leave nothing to chance.

Except—if you don’t have an estate plan—you are leaving A LOT to chance. If you are a parent of minor children, there are three things you need to consider today: (1) Guardianship; (2) Money; and (3) Emergencies.