What should nontraditional families know about estate planning?

On Behalf of | Dec 5, 2019 | wills & estates

Currently, only 65% of families in North Carolina and elsewhere in the United States are considered traditional ones. These are described as ones with a single mom and dad and kids. All other families are blended, childless, inter-religious, inter-racial, those led by homosexual parents and others. This matters because traditional approaches to estate planning are no longer appropriate for most families here in Statesville or anywhere else in this country.

Nontraditional families have to be cautious when planning their estates. Much of the language used on standard estate planning forms are drafted for traditional families, not modern ones. Intestate succession rules have been crafted much the same way. This is why members of nontraditional families should steer clear from using readily accessible online forms when planning their estate.

A Statesville attorney who’s experienced in working with nontraditional families will know how to handle varying situations including passing on assets to adoptive, stepchildren or those born by artificially reproduction methods. Your lawyer will know also know how to adapt beneficiary language so that you can seamlessly pass on assets to those you care for most as well.

The uptick in unmarried couples in this country has made it particularly important for these individuals to have family law attorney draft cohabitation agreements to document each partners’ rights and responsibilities.

Unmarried couples can benefit from having attorney help them draft the power of attorney, health care proxies and other important estate planning documents to give one partner rights to make certain important decisions for the other when existing laws dictate something different.

Individuals who have what some may consider as nontraditional or modern families may have intentions of having a loved one make decisions on their behalf or in passing on assets to someone that standard estate planning forms aren’t set up for. If this is the case with you and your family, then you’ll want to consult with a wills & estates attorney who has experience in drafting these legal documents for nontraditional, modern families like yours.