How to Protect Your Spouse and Your Children

Blended families are beautiful and complex. When spouses come together with children from previous relationships, estate planning takes on a whole new level of importance. At Ohio Heritage Law, we specialize in helping Ohio families navigate these unique dynamics with clarity, compassion, and confidence.

Whether you’ve remarried, have stepchildren, or simply want to ensure fairness in your legacy, this guide will walk you through the essential trust-based estate planning options for blended families—and why it’s critical to plan ahead.

WHY ESTATE PLANNING IS CRUCIAL FOR BLENDED FAMILIES

Without a carefully drafted estate plan, many blended families risk unintentionally disinheriting children from a prior relationship. This often happens when all assets are left outright to the surviving spouse, with the hope that they will later pass those assets on to both sets of children.

Unfortunately, life can be unpredictable. Remarriage, shifting priorities, financial strain, or even just the passage of time can lead to original intentions being forgotten—or ignored. The result? The children of the first spouse to die may receive nothing.

Trust-based estate planning can help you avoid this outcome and ensure that everyone you love is taken care of.

TRUST PLANNING OPTIONS FOR BLENDED FAMILIES

Every blended family is unique, but here are three estate planning strategies that can provide security and peace of mind:

1. Separate Revocable Living Trusts

Each spouse creates their own trust. These trusts are used to manage assets each brought into the marriage. Upon death, each trust distributes assets to the children of that spouse, while also allowing for support of the surviving spouse, such as access to income or the use of a home.

Best for:

• Couples with significant premarital assets
• Families who want to maintain control over asset distribution
• Individuals with children from a previous marriage

2. Joint Revocable Living Trust with Protective Provisions

A joint trust allows couples to manage shared assets in one place. With the right protective provisions, the surviving spouse can receive income and support during their lifetime, while the assets are preserved for the deceased spouse’s children.

Best for:

• Couples with mostly joint assets
• Families with shared financial goals but a desire to protect each spouse’s children

3. Bypass Trusts or Disclaimer Trusts

These are more structured tools that create a sub-trust at the death of the first spouse. The surviving spouse may receive income, but the trust restricts their ability to change the ultimate beneficiaries. This helps ensure that the children of the first spouse are not disinherited.

Best for:

• Families concerned about remarriage or future conflicts
• Couples with significant estates or complicated family dynamics

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON’T HAVE A TRUST?

Without a trust-based estate plan, Ohio law (the Ohio Revised Code) governs how your assets are distributed. In blended families, this often leads to outcomes that don’t reflect your wishes. Your spouse may receive the majority—or all—of your estate, and your children from a prior relationship may be left out entirely.

Probate court involvement can also lead to delays, legal fees, and family disputes. Trust-based estate planning is one of the most effective ways to ensure privacy, avoid probate, and maintain control over your legacy.

WHY CHOOSE OHIO HERITAGE LAW LLC FOR BLENDED FAMILY ESTATE PLANNING?

At Ohio Heritage Law, we know that estate planning is about more than documents. It’s about family, values, and peace of mind. Attorney Jeanette Mullett-Meisel takes a personalized, relationship-centered approach to ensure your trust-based estate plan reflects your unique family story.

With deep experience in Ohio law and a compassionate, educational style, we make the process simple and approachable—no legal jargon, no confusion.

Schedule Your Blended Family Estate Planning Consultation Today

If you’re part of a blended family in Ohio, now is the time to create or update your estate plan. A trust-based estate plan can protect your spouse, preserve your children’s inheritance, and prevent costly mistakes.

Call Ohio Heritage Law LLC today at (330) 571-4151 or click here to schedule your free initial consultation. Let us help you create a legacy of love, clarity, and protection.

The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Visiting this website or contacting Ohio Heritage Law LLC through this website does not create an attorney-client relationship. You should not act or rely on any information provided without seeking professional legal advice tailored to your specific situation.  Ohio Heritage Law LLC does not accept representation of clients without a formal client engagement agreement. Please do not send any confidential information to Ohio Heritage Law LLC until an attorney-client relationship has been established.