In a society where half of marriages end in divorce, blended families and second marriages are commonplace. Joining two families together is not usually simple 1 + 1 = 2 arithmetic. Often, it is more like measuring the power of earthquakes, where going up one on the scale increases the intensity by a factor of 10. 

Topics covered in this course include the following:

• Classifying ownership of assets, including classification agreements (prenups aren’t just for divorce)
• Using trusts to control assets
• Planning for stepchildren 
• Planning when spouses have different beneficiaries 
• Making certain that the children of the first spouse to die don’t get disinherited 
• Trust options for the surviving spouse 
• The effect of remarriage on income, gift, and estate taxes 
• Long-term care considerations with remarriage