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If it’s been a while since you’ve reviewed your estate plan, this article may be one of the most important things you’ll read this year. As standard practice, our firm sends letters to clients every three years to remind them to review their existing estate plans and to contact us immediately if they need to make changes to those plans. Of course, we also host special seminars throughout the year designed to help you better understand the common reasons an estate plan is critical and how to address revisions as new life circumstances and needs arise. While our commitment to helping you devise the most current and legally sound estate plan hasn’t changed, we are taking a Free Seminars for Future Focus LEARN AT OUR LIVE (OR ONLINE) SESSIONS Although rare, the possibility of both parents passing away in an accident or a similar disaster still exists. It’s always best to plan for this worst-case scenario and hope it never occurs, rather than avoid considering it until it’s too late. After all, an unnecessary court battle could unfold in situations where each deceased parent’s family is very invested in the children left behind and desires custody over the other side. Distribution Patterns Let’s say you’re 18 years old and just inherited $5 million. Would you have the discipline to use that money responsibly, or would you go on a spending spree that could put your future livelihood at risk? To better protect your children from their inheritances doing more harm than good, consider establishing distribution patterns that support their ongoing financial security. A third party can be appointed to oversee their inheritance and distribute it in predetermined amounts over specified periods of time. Perhaps your young children would benefit more from a larger allowance as they approach retirement age than when they’re fresh out of college and not yet well-versed in money management. The correct distribution pattern will help your beneficiary avoid the potential pitfalls of receiving too much too soon. Blended Families If you and your spouse entered into your marriage with your own children, this “Brady Bunch” scenario could
prove problematic without the necessary estate plan in place. Discussing and planning what happens to each spouse’s respective children in the event of a spouse’s death will help all involved steer away from a nightmare situation where the deceased’s non-biological children are not provided for, or the surviving spouse decides to only support their own children. Sadly, I’ve seen scenes of this nature play out in court time and time again when the matter could have been resolved by addressing it in an estate plan drafted in my office. This article is a brief overview of some of the complexities that can arise when children are involved in your legacy plans. Please contact us if we can further explain any details to help you and your loved ones receive a higher level of legal protection. That way, you can enjoy a family
milestone today with the comfort of knowing your loved ones will be protected tomorrow.
new approach to assisting clients in reviewing and updating these plans. We are still hosting our free in-person Estate Planning Seminars, but we will now offer archived recordings of these sessions free to our clients for on-demand viewing. Whether you attend in person or view the seminars online, you will receive essential information on successful estate planning, as well as our fee schedule for updates or revisions through our firm. This way, you will have a clearer understanding in advance of what may need to be changed in your plan before you schedule an individual review meeting with us. Our free in-person Estate Planning Seminars will be held on the following dates: Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Additional information about these seminars is available on our website at BottEstatePlanning.com We hope our new seminar structure will provide you with greater flexibility and convenience. If you plan to attend in person, we can’t wait to see you!
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