Blended families create planning challenges that a basic will rarely addresses. At DeMott Law Firm, P.A., attorney Russell A. DeMott helps families in Summerville and the greater Charleston area build wills, trusts, and estate planning strategies that protect your spouse, your biological children, and your stepchildren.
Under S.C. Code § 62-2-109, stepchildren do not inherit through intestate succession unless they were legally adopted. Stepchildren inheritance planning must be intentional and clearly documented.
Tools like revocable living trusts, QTIP trusts, and carefully drafted wills give you precise control over how and when your assets are distributed. A QTIP trust can provide income and support for your surviving spouse during their lifetime while preserving the remaining assets for your biological children after your spouse passes. Stepchildren inheritance planning may require explicit designation in your documents, since South Carolina law does not automatically treat stepchildren as legal heirs.
If your family includes minor children from a prior relationship, additional planning may be needed. Naming a guardian or establishing a children's trust can be part of protecting them.
Russell A. DeMott brings more than 30 years of legal experience to every client he serves throughout Summerville, Charleston, SC, and surrounding communities.
Clients come to him with real questions:
"Will my stepchildren be treated fairly?"
"Will my new spouse be protected if I die first?"
"Will my kids from my first marriage still receive what I intended?"
He takes the time to listen to your family's full situation before recommending any plan, explaining every option in plain language so you leave with clarity.
Russ has built a reputation for combining deep legal knowledge with genuine care for his clients.
Call (843) 695-0830 or request a consultation online.
Not sure whether a will or a trust fits your situation? Start with our Trust vs. Will guide or the South Carolina Estate Planning FAQ.
