Estate Planning & Divorce: If You Don't Have A Will:
(Provided by: Stephen D. Dunegan, Esq.)
Married individuals who are considering divorce should review their estate plans to determine if they remain appropriate in light of the possible divorce. Remember that the law considers you to be legally married until the judge signs the final dissolution decree ending the marriage.
If you do not have a will, in most states your spouse will automatically be entitled to control of your estate and will be entitled to at least half of your estate (depending upon whether or not you have children) in the event of your death. Therefore, the single most important step you can take to make sure that your desires are carried out is to execute a new will expressing your wishes as to whom you want to handle the estate (executor) and whom you want to receive your estate (beneficiaries). Do not wait until the divorce is final to prepare your will--if you die before the divorce is final, you will still be considered legally married and your pending divorce will have no effect on his or her inheritance. You should seek the advice of a qualified estate planning attorney to guide you through the preparation of a will and related estate planning documents.Go to: Estate Planning & Divorce Informational Section
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