If you decide to divorce your spouse, it’ll change your life in many ways. It’s critical to alter your estate plan as soon as possible, as there’s a good chance you want to remove your ex-spouse entirely.
In the future, you may decide to remarry. This will lead you to once again review your estate plan. When doing so, here are some factors to keep in mind:
- Children from a previous marriage: If you have children from your previous marriage, you may want to include them in your future estate plan. This holds true even if you have additional children with your new spouse.
- The assets you brought into the marriage: If you have significant assets, such as stocks and real estate holdings, you may choose to keep these separate as to protect them in the event of another divorce. This will help you pass the assets down to the person of your choosing.
- The debt brought into the marriage: For example, if your partner is bringing a lot of debt into the marriage, you can create a prenuptial agreement to protect against being responsible for some of it in a divorce.
These are just a few of the many things you should consider when creating an estate plan before or shortly after tying the knot for a second time.
When you keep an open line of communication with your spouse, you’ll find it easier to create an estate plan that benefits the both of you. Knowing your legal rights and the steps you can take should give you the peace of mind you’re seeking.
