As blended families become more common, how do you structure wills and super to be fair to everyone?

Ah, the Brady Bunch. Would you want that conniving little so-and-so Marcia to get an equal portion?

She was a piece of work, that Marcia. Never liked her. Usually up to no good. If she was my half-sister, I’d … I’d …

And, bingo, there’s the problem. Death only makes things worse. There’s nothing like the assets of a dead relative to bring out humanity’s worst traits. Nice people can turn feral when estates are divvied up.

Plenty of Gen Xers bring children from previous relationships, often with shared custody arrangements, into new relationships.

Relationships are unique and complex. Even more so when the assets brought into the relationship are included.

Estate planning starts with the “red wine test”. You both sit down, after the kids are asleep, open a bottle of red and write down what you want to happen in the event of either or both of you dying.

How is each child to be looked after? Fairness may or may not be a part of that. Once you know what you want to achieve, sit down with professionals, including an estate planning lawyer and a financial adviser, particularly for life insurance and super.

Gen Xers might not have considerable physical assets (yet). Insurance, for the surviving spouse or guardians (if you both die), is the best way to make sure the life you have planned for your kids can be provided if you’re not around.

I don’t think DIY wills are a good option. Estate planning is too complex, particularly for blended families. Specialist lawyers will help make sure all bases have been covered.

Bruce Brammall is the author of Debt Man Walking (www.debtman.com.au) and principal adviser with Castellan Financial Consulting.