Wedding Season: Why “I Do” Means “We Need to Talk”

June is the peak month for weddings, which means May is the month of final preparations.

If you're a parent of the bride or groom, or if you're getting remarried yourself, this is a critical time to look at estate planning in a blended world.

For Second Marriages

If you're remarrying and have children from a previous relationship, a standard "simple will" is dangerous.

If you leave everything to your new spouse, they legally own it. They can later rewrite their will and leave those assets to their own children, accidentally disinheriting yours.

The Solution: A trust can ensure your new spouse is supported during their lifetime, but the remaining assets ultimately return to your children. This protects everyone you love.

For Parents of the Couple

If you're planning to leave an inheritance to your newly married child, you might be worried about it becoming "marital property" (and potentially lost in a future divorce).

The Solution: You can leave their inheritance in a trust. This keeps the money protected under your child's name only, shielding it from future ex-spouses or creditors.

These conversations might not feel as exciting as choosing flowers or tasting cake, but they’re some of the most loving actions you can take for your family.

Give us a call at (503) 235-5150 if you need to talk about estate planning due to an upcoming wedding.