The Connection Between Family Law And Estate Planning

There is a lot to take care of when you get a divorce. As busy as you are, you might not realize that getting divorced also means it is time to review and update your estate plan.

Besides guiding you through divorce, our attorneys and staff at Clark Law PLLC in Manchester, New Hampshire, are here to help you amend your estate plan. One of our experienced attorneys will go over your plan with you in detail and make sure your new plan reflects changes in your personal life.

Why Amending Your Estate Plan Is Part Of Divorce

You probably executed your current estate plan while you were still married. That likely means your former spouse is still named as your primary beneficiary and heir. Unless you and your spouse are on excellent terms, you probably no longer want this arrangement to be the case.

There are several estate planning documents that can become out of date following divorce, such as:

• Wills
• Trusts
• Advance directives
• Powers of attorney

These documents can be amended at any time to add or remove individuals. We recommend amending your estate plan as soon as possible. The future is never guaranteed, and putting off these changes could lead to confusion, hurt feelings and other unintended consequences for your loved ones.

Other instruments that are related to estate planning but technically not part of the plan cannot be changed until your divorce is final. These include life insurance policies, 401(k)s and other retirement accounts, and employer-sponsored pensions.

Our attorneys have comprehensive experience in divorce and family law, including things like estate planning. We will carefully review your plan and help you make important decisions on updates. Our help will bring your estate plan up to date and bring you one step closer to the next phase of your life.

Discuss Changing Your Estate Plan With A Lawyer

Call 603-473-4338 to reach our Manchester, New Hampshire, office. You can also email us.