Estate plans are best way to avoid financial surprises
Dear Carolyn: I have been happily married to a wonderful man for the last four years. My husband has a teenage son from his previous marriage, but we’ve decided not to have kids of our own.
Last week, I was boxing up papers from our office and came upon a printed email from my father-in-law to his financial planner. In the email, my father-in-law asked the financial planner how to ensure that my stepson receives the remainder of my in-laws’ estate after my husband dies.
The financial planner suggested a couple of options, one of which was a generation-skipping trust that would pass to my stepson upon my husband’s death, regardless of whether I or my husband pass on first.
I was surprised and incredibly hurt by the question from my father-in-law, since I am younger than my husband and there is a good chance I will outlive him.
Although, I sympathize with his desire to pass something down to his grandson, it seems cruel to do so by leaving me with nothing when I am a widow.
I feel guilty for even caring. But I am genuinely scared for my financial future now, and deeply hurt by my in-laws’ coldness. Am I wrong to be upset? Should I ask my husband to talk to them about it?
Your being upset is understandable. It would be a mistake, though, to stick with those hurt feelings as your only response.
No one wants to be called untrustworthy, which is the message you’re getting from the letter. Your father-inlaw (“Phil”) doesn’t trust you to be the one to ensure his grandson inherits his estate. As I said, it’s understandable that this would sting.
It’s such a huge thing to entrust to anyone, that not being trusted is — for these purposes as least — not a personal slight. I can see not wanting to be trusted with this. Don’t put me in charge of anyone else’s share because I don’t need that grief.
Accordingly, the transaction you’ve witnessed here is commonplace. People routinely secure assets for their immediate families because even one variable or third party can leave the intended heir with nothing.
Take your moment to be upset, then reframe to see the practical wisdom in what Phil wants to do.
Then go a step further and think about your own position here. What will happen if your husband does predecease you?
This question is also (more or less) independent of Phil’s arrangements for your stepson. You and your husband need to discuss how you’ll provide for each other in your wills to ensure neither is left homeless or broke.
Do not raise the issue with, “Hey, why is he getting everything while I get nothing.” Rather, begin with, “I stumbled across this email and it made me realize we haven’t gotten our own estate plans in order. We need to make sure neither of us is in for a nasty surprise.”