ESTATE PLANNING FOR BLENDED FAMILIES

Blended Family Planning Lawyer Bluffton, SC

Ready to learn more? A great place to start is by attending one our free seminars or webinars. There, you will learn the secrets to protecting yourself and your loved ones from what happens when you don’t plan!

If you're part of a blended family—whether you're remarried, have children from a prior relationship, or are helping raise stepchildren—you already know how special and complex your family dynamic can be. The same is true when it comes to estate planning.

A well-crafted estate plan is essential to ensure that everyone you love is protected and that your wishes are honored. Without one, the people you care about most may be unintentionally left out—leading to confusion, hurt feelings, or even legal disputes among family members.

At LowcoTerra Law, we understand that no two families are alike. That’s why we take time to get to know your family’s structure, your goals, your fears, and your hopes for the future—before we draft a single document. Our mission is to help you build a thoughtful plan that brings peace of mind, prevents conflict, and creates a legacy of love and protection.

Blended Families Need a Different Kind of Plan

South Carolina’s default inheritance laws don’t account for modern families. Without a personalized estate plan:

  • Your children from a prior relationship could be disinherited

  • A new spouse might receive everything—while stepchildren or biological children receive nothing

  • Stepchildren you love like your own may not legally inherit at all

  • Family conflict could arise during probate, especially if your wishes aren’t clearly documented

Peace of Mind for Every Member of Your Modern Family

An estate plan designed specifically for blended families helps prevent these painful outcomes and ensures that your legacy is distributed in the way you truly intend.

Common Goals for Blended Family Planning

Whether you're in a second marriage, co-parenting, or navigating new roles as a stepparent or grandparent, we help you:

  • Protect children from previous relationships

  • Support your current spouse without sacrificing your long-term wishes

  • Appoint trusted guardians for minor children

  • Use trusts to control how and when your assets are distributed

  • Prevent future legal disputes between step-siblings and spouses

How We Help Bluffton Blended Families Build Peace of Mind

At LowcoTerra Law, we take time to understand your family’s dynamic, goals, and concerns. Then we build a plan that’s just right for you.

Your plan may include:

  • Revocable Living Trusts with sub-trusts for different beneficiaries

  • Lifetime trusts for children

  • Clear inheritance instructions for stepchildren or blended siblings

  • Powers of attorney and advance directives that reflect your blended household

  • Planning sessions that include your spouse or adult children—when appropriate

We believe estate planning is about more than just documents. It's about protecting relationships and avoiding future hurt or conflict.

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • Almost always—yes. A trust allows you to provide for your spouse during their lifetime while preserving your assets for your children.

  • South Carolina’s laws could divide your estate in ways that feel unfair or cause conflict—often leaving one side resentful of the other.

  • Absolutely! However, when doing this planning it is important to be very clear. Otherwise, assumptions or confusion can lead to painful disputes.

  • Yes! As busy mom and wife, myself I understand that families are now busier than ever. No worries. I offer remote appointments via Zoom to get you started.

Ready to Get Started?

Contact Us.

hello@lowcoterra.com
(843) 376-9993

10 State Road S-7-50
Bluffton, SC 29910