In a blended family, a will often has to meet more than one understandable wish. You may want your partner to feel secure while also ensuring that children from an earlier relationship benefit. Those aims can coexist, but the structure needs careful thought.
The most familiar arrangement—leaving everything outright to the surviving partner—does not necessarily preserve an inheritance for your children later. Once property belongs to the survivor, their circumstances and future decisions may change.
Look beyond matching wills
Two people can make similar wills without creating a binding promise that neither will change them. A shared intention today is not the same as a legal arrangement controlling the survivor's estate.
Marriage can also affect an existing will, and a spouse's protected rights need to be considered. The children of each partner may have different legal relationships to the other. Do not assume that the word “children” automatically includes every person you regard as part of the family.
Start with the home
Establish who owns the home and how it is held. Then consider what security the survivor needs and what you intend for the next generation. An outright gift, a right to occupy and a life interest are different arrangements with different consequences.
A trust or occupation arrangement can introduce questions about repairs, insurance, sale, replacement property, expenses and when the interest ends. These are matters for individual drafting and tax advice, rather than a short addition to a standard will.
Be clear about the practical plan
Think about who will act as executor or trustee. A person caught between competing sides of the family may find the role difficult. Independent assistance can sometimes reduce tension, although costs and responsibilities should be understood.
Keep a record of significant lifetime support and explain your priorities to your adviser. If appropriate, discuss the broad plan with the people affected, while retaining independent control of your instructions.
Review the arrangement after a marriage, separation, property purchase or major change in a child's needs. What was balanced at one stage may no longer fit the family.
The best plan is one that makes the intended support clear and deals honestly with competing interests. For a blended family, that usually justifies a solicitor's advice before the final wording is chosen.
Sources and further reading
General information, not advice on your individual circumstances. Laws and tax rules can change; check the linked official guidance and obtain professional advice where needed.