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Estate Planning in Second Marriages

Trusts and Estates Attorney Advising Spouses in New York City

There are some specific challenges to estate planning in second marriages in New York. It is important for spouses who have previously been married to discuss their financial situation and how they want their property to be handled in blended family situations. These matters should be discussed candidly, but also it is important to consult an experienced New York City estate planning lawyer who can carefully craft the wills or trusts necessary to make it possible for your property to be distributed according to your wishes and needs.

Estate Planning in Second Marriages

Estate laws in New York provide protection for current spouses to avoid their becoming disinherited. If you die intestate, which means dying without a valid will, at least 50% of your estate will be distributed to your current spouse. Your current spouse is also entitled to be the estate administrator under the Surrogate's Court Procedure Act section 1001 ("Order of priority for granting letters of administration"). Moreover, there is a 100% estate tax deduction for all estate assets passing to a surviving spouse under federal and New York tax provisions. These laws incentivize giving your current spouse all of your assets.

However, not every person wants to give 50% of an estate to a current spouse. For example, some people would prefer to give a more substantial portion to multiple children from one or more prior marriages. Sometimes a greater amount of an estate should go to a child with special needs from a prior marriage. Some people would prefer to have another person besides the current spouse serve as the executor of the will.

In most second marriages, it is crucial to draft wills, living trusts, and powers of attorney in accordance with what each spouse has decided and what their obligations are. For example, one or both spouses may have obligations to pay alimony, retain a former spouse as a beneficiary of a retirement account, or distribute property in a particular way through a divorce agreement with a former spouse. There may also be guardianship issues in connection with minor children, which an attorney also can help you address.

The way that assets and property are held will affect the way that they should be distributed after a spouse's death. Additional factors that will influence estate planning are the assets that each spouse brought into the second or subsequent marriage, whether children are involved, the ages of the spouses, marital property laws in New York, and how accounts in the family are held.

Some spouses may have accounts in which funds automatically transfer on death or that are held as joint tenants with rights of survivorship, and in that case, there is a clear indication of to whom the assets will go. If you wish to change the name of a beneficiary on an account, and it is possible to do so, this should be done as part of estate planning.

It is important for parents to realize that when proper estate planning is not done with a new spouse in mind, after your death, your surviving spouse can disinherit whomever they wish, including your children from a prior marriage. It may be possible to create a trust that ensures that you are leaving something for your children from a prior marriage.

For example, it might be appropriate to create a qualified terminable interest property (QTIP) trust. This trust provides a stream of income from the trust to a surviving spouse without needing to pay estate taxes. However, the surviving spouse does not get title to the income-producing property, and the trust documents will control where the property goes after the surviving spouse's death. Using a QTIP trust can ensure that your spouse does not disinherit children from a prior marriage. Other tools to be possibly considered include credit shelter trusts and irrevocable life insurance trusts.

Consult a New York City Lawyer to Devise a Strategy for Your Future

Attorney Jules Haas has over 30 years of experience handling estate planning in second marriages and other complicated situations. He works diligently toward achieving client satisfaction. Our firm represents people throughout New York City, including in the Bronx and Queens, as well as in Kings, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester Counties. Call us at (212) 355-2575 or complete our online form.

Client Reviews
★★★★★
I am very grateful to Mr. Jules Martin Haas attorney of law in New York. I am from Buenos Aires Argentina. He managed with expertise a very difficult situation. of a complicate heritage from my aunt Anna Grodzka that lived and died a very long time ago in New York. I recommend him not only for his extraordinary knowledge but also for his kindness. Irma CW Peusner
★★★★★
I found Mr. Haas after being misguided by a former attorney. Mr. Jules Haas took our case which involved an estate/trust dispute. What initially seemed like an impossible and overwhelming legal fight was now in the hands of someone who had the integrity and legal expertise to win our case. Mr Haas' attention to detail and his expert knowledge base, skillfully and successfully guided us through an intricate legal process. I am very thankful and grateful to Mr. Jules Haas for representing our interest and ultimately winning. Bringing about a peace of mind we needed. Thank You Devida Nedd
★★★★★
I was in need of a guardianship attorney and I hired the services of Jules M. Haas' Law firm. The service of counselor Haas and his staff, was very profesional and the case was handled in a timely matter. I would strongly recommend his services Angel Guevara
★★★★★
I strongly recommend Jules Haas. I have worked with him for two years and he has provided so much support and followed through with everything he promised he would do. His support staff is just as helpful! We had an interesting case and he helped to solve each part of it legally and was very thorough. Thank you for everything you have done to finalize our families estate Robyn Stafford
★★★★★
Jules Haas helped me with managing the process in probate court for my father's estate through to its completion upon the sale of my father's house. He was knowledgeable, efficient, and effective in submitting documentation to the probate court, explaining procedures to me, and advising me as to the progress of my case. His support staff was also very helpful. He made what for me created so much anxiety into something manageable where I could see progress every step of the way. His fees were very reasonable. I am super grateful to him for all the help he has provided and strongly recommend his services. Diana Janer
★★★★★
I just completed an estate transaction where Jules Haas represented my client in an estate and he did a great job! He was very quick at responding to all matters throughout the sale process, he was detailed, he was knowledgeable and he was a pleasure to work with. I just recommended him to some new clients who are going through an estate matter and will continue to recommend him. Rodolfo Lucchese