Possible Concerns With Elderly Marriage
More than half a million seniors will marry this year. Some of these nuptials are causing concern for the bride and groom’s adult children. In some cases, a single elderly parent who marries again intends to live in his or her home with the new spouse. But that’s the same house in which the now-adult children grew up and the one they expected to receive when the parent died. Children may worry that the family home will be lost to a new spouse they hardly know or that the financial inheritance they planned on will be lost.
Marlene Eskind Moses, President of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), explains that attorneys have seen an increase in adult children involving themselves in these affairs. “They now want to be involved in prenup agreements, wills, trusts and health care directives that clearly state how much will be spent and then into who owns what possessions ranging from a house to porcelain dishes.” Some adult children go to great lengths to protect their rights, even contesting wills before the parent has passed away.
Discuss Concerns in Advance
It is often wise for adult children to talk to their elderly parents about any concerns regarding inheritance and the possibility of a prenuptial agreement before the parent remarries. An experienced family law attorney can provide valuable advice and guidance about prenuptial agreements to families in this situation.
