Inheritance planning is hard with step kids. How this couple did it

The O’Connells are mum, dad, three boys and a lost baby girl. They put estate planning in the too-hard basket for years but eventually found the strength for tough conversations.

Estate planning for blended families requires a nuanced approach to make sure everything is fair and there are legal protections for all involved. Simon Letch

Alexandra Cain

Dec 12, 2024 – 5.00am

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Robyn O’Connell works as a funeral consultant and runs a business called Last Farewell, which helps people prepare for the end of their lives. So she’s seen some things when it comes to wills and estate planning.

“When I talk to people about the end of their life, I always say make sure you have a will,” she says. “The people I see in my work are often those with really dysfunctional or blended families who don’t want a bun fight when they die. If everything is written down in your will, it means your wishes have to be followed.”