If you have children from a previous relationship and a current partner, the standard approach (“everything to my spouse”) might leave your children with nothing.
The risk: If you leave everything to your partner, they control what happens next. When they die, their will decides where it goes — and your children may not be included.
Common strategies:
Life interest: Your partner can live in the house or receive income, but the asset passes to your children when they die.
Direct gifts: Leave specific assets or amounts directly to your children, with the rest to your partner.
Testamentary trust: Assets are held in trust with rules about who benefits and when.
What to discuss with your partner:
- What do your children need?
- What does your partner need?
- What happens if your partner remarries?
The hard truth: Without explicit planning, blended families often end up in court. Your will is the only way to protect children from a previous relationship.