Ensuring your Stepchildren’s Rights to an Inheritance

            In the state of Florida, stepchildren do not have automatic legal rights to inherit assets from their stepparent.  If you would like your stepchildren to inherit part of your estate, you need to specify that in your estate planning documents such as your will and trust.  Wills must contain specific language identifying stepchildren and including them as beneficiaries.  Generic references to “my children” would not automatically include stepchildren.  Another way to ensure your stepchildren receive part of your estate is to formally adopt them so they would be afforded full legal rights equivalent to those of biological children.  Adopting your stepchildren could help avoid inheritance issues if you do not leave estate planning documents such as a will or trust describing how you want your assets to be dispersed among your blended family.

To set up estate planning documents, contact the office of Bach & Jacobs, P.A. at (941) 906-1231.