How does inheritance work in blended families?
September 29, 2022 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Felix Richter
Dear attorney specializing in inheritance law,
My name is Emil Becker and I am facing a complex situation regarding inheritance in my blended family. My wife and I each have children from previous relationships, and we also have a child together. In our case, there are three different family branches that could potentially claim our inheritance upon our passing.
I am currently concerned about how the legal inheritance rules apply in such a blended family and whether I can ensure that all of my children are fairly and justly provided for. I want to avoid any disputes or uncertainties after my death and would like to know what options exist to make a clear and fair arrangement.
I am wondering if we should create a will to address our specific situation, and if it would be beneficial to establish an inheritance contract. What legal steps should we take to ensure that the inheritance is clearly regulated and avoid any unwanted surprises for our family? Are there specific aspects to consider when drafting a will to take into account the interests of all involved parties?
I would greatly appreciate if you could provide me with an overview of the legal options and pitfalls in such blended families and offer advice on the optimal structuring of the inheritance.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Emil Becker
Dear Mr. Becker,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the complex situation concerning inheritance in your blended family. It is understandable that you are concerned and want to ensure that all of your children are treated fairly and justly. In a blended family with different branches, it is particularly important to establish a clear and unambiguous arrangement of inheritance to avoid disputes and uncertainties.
In your case, it is advisable to create a will to address your specific situation. Through a will, you can determine who should receive what shares of your estate. You can also make provisions to ensure that all of your children are appropriately provided for. It is important that the will is clearly and unambiguously worded to avoid potential interpretation difficulties.
An inheritance contract could also be a sensible option to regulate the inheritance in your blended family. An inheritance contract is a contractual agreement between the testators and the heirs, in which the inheritance and distribution of the estate are determined. An inheritance contract can be concluded in addition to a will and provides another way to consider the interests of all parties involved.
When creating a will, you should consider some aspects to ensure that the interests of all parties involved are adequately taken into account. It is important to list all relevant information and assets in the will. You can also make specific provisions to ensure that your children from different relationships are treated fairly. It may also be useful to appoint an executor who oversees the implementation of your testamentary dispositions.
It is advisable to seek advice from an experienced estate lawyer to ensure that your testamentary dispositions are legally valid and in line with your wishes. A lawyer can provide comprehensive information on the legal options and pitfalls in blended families and assist you in designing the inheritance in the best possible way.
I hope this information is helpful to you and I am available to answer any further questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Felix Richter
