What are Stepfamilies?
Stepfamilies
Stepfamilies, also called blended families or remarriage families, are families that include two adults, one or more children from previous relationships, and any children the couple has together. Stepfamilies are on the rise as divorce, remarriage, and cohabitation are on the rise. According to Pew Research,
- 15% of children are living with parents in a remarriage
- 7% of children are living with parents who are cohabitating
It’s important to note that these statistics only reflect families with minor children. The actual percentage of stepfamilies is larger as many stepfamilies have adult children. In
fact, it is estimated that more than half of all Americans either have been or will be included in a stepfamily during their lifetime.
The Importance of Estate Planning for Stepfamilies
Estate planning is important for every family, but it’s even more critical for stepfamilies. For starters, stepfamilies have more complex family dynamics, both legally and emotionally, because they involve children from previous relationships and often include children from the current relationship. An estate planning attorney can help you navigate these complex family dynamics to ensure a smooth inheritance process.
More importantly, in Ohio, the laws do not treat biological and adopted children the same as stepchildren. Without proper estate planning, stepchildren generally have no automatic inheritance rights and could be unintentionally left out of an estate, even if they have a close relationship with their stepparent. To prevent such occurrences, an estate planning attorney can help you create a comprehensive estate plan to navigate the inheritance and estate tax laws, while ensuring that everyone’s interests are accounted for.