08/29/2026
Did you know that in Ohio, stepchildren have no automatic legal right to inherit from a stepparent? Unless they've been legally adopted or are specifically named in a formal estate plan, the law simply doesn't recognize that relationship.
Here's what that means in practice: if you die without a will, Ohio's default laws send everything to biological relatives, adopted children, and your spouse. Stepchildren who weren't adopted receive nothing — regardless of how close the relationship was or how long you raised them.
There's another wrinkle blended families often miss, too. Leaving everything to a surviving spouse by default sounds simple, but it doesn't actually guarantee your own biological children are protected. That spouse could later remarry, change beneficiaries, or otherwise leave them out down the road.
None of this is hard to fix. A properly drafted will can name stepchildren directly as beneficiaries. A revocable living trust gives you more control over how and when they receive assets. And updating the beneficiary forms on retirement accounts, IRAs, and life insurance policies can close a lot of these gaps on its own.
If any of this sounds relevant to your family, come learn more at "Will Power: Estate Planning for Real Life," hosted by the Portage Foundation.
Monday, August 31st, 7 PM
Kohanski Center, 119 West Pioneer Rd, Aurora
Free, registration required
We'll talk through what a will can and can't do, clear up some common misconceptions, and cover how your plan might need to change as your family does. Bring your questions.
Register here: https://portagefoundation.org/events/
