Inheritance in California
I am divorced and remarried to a woman who owns a home. Likewise I also own a home too. If either of us die without a will, who inherits the house of the surviving spouse. She has two kids and I have two kids with my first wife.
I want my wife to inherit the home and if she dies after I do, I want my kids to inherit the home.
What advice can be offered?
Inheritance after a divorce
I have an estate in stocks for taxable and tax deterred and life insurance. I want to leave the estate to my wife, but if she dies, I want the remainder to go to my children and not to her children.
I am concerned that my wishes be respected and that she can live on the earnings but the principal less a reasonable sum to be used yearly if needed... and the balance goes to my kids.
Any suggestions the best way to accomplish this?
Step kids and college and child support payments
I have two step kids and my wife has a deadbeat ex who has failed to pay support. I have not adopted the kids.
I have no interest to pay for their college education for a number of reasons but primarily they are recent high school grad and a sophomore in high school. My wife and I got married a year ago.
I have intentionally not paid her house pmt or any of her bills. I give her a period check for household expenses. My income goes into my checking account and she has a separate account for her job. She did add me to her checking account, but I have not written any checks.
We have separate real estate loans that we each pay. We have not joint debt other than adding her to one credit card that I consider mine.
I want to determine if my income and assets will be used in anyway to affect the amount of student aid if the kids go to college. I don't want to be liable for their college expenses and I don't particularly want my income considered in the college financial aid calculations.
Should we have some type of a post nuptuial agreement or some written agreement regarding our income and expenses that could be presented for financial support calcuations.
What is the best way to protect my income from being included in college support or even if her ex spouse wanted to consider my income to reduce chidl support. I'd rather not be drawn into the child support reduction if the ex proposes a reduction based upon my income.