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Sofía Vergara and Joe Manganiello split after seven years of marriage: The significance of updating your estate plan after divorce
You may know h
er as The “Modern Family” star, who was recently celebrating her 51st birthday in Capri, Italy with a group of friends— without Manganiello or her wedding ring. Manganiello’s absence was immediatly noticed by fans on Instagram, as Vergara posted a photo with the message: When life gives u lemons u come to Italy to squeeze them.” One comment wrote, “Is anyone else wondering where’s Joe?” Another comment said, “Wondering where her husband is, he hasn’t shown up in any of the photos of videos.”
Sofía Vergara and her husband Joe Manganiello have officially announced that they are getting a divorce after seven years of marriage, Page Six can exclusively reveal.
The couple tells Page Six in a statement: “We have made the difficult decision to divorce. As two people that love and care for one another very much, we politely ask for respect of our privacy at this time as we navigate this new phase of our lives.”
The couple got married at a lavish Palm Beach ceremony in November 2015 in front of 400 guests. Vergara’s “Modern Family” co-stars Ariel Winter, Ed O’Neill, Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Julie Bowen, Sarah Hyland, and Ty Burrell, as well as Manganiello’s “True Blood” co-stars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer all attended the wedding.
Although the end result, the divorce, might be exactly what they need, everyone knows that the process itself is terrible. Celebrity divorce is no exception. For most of us “regular people,” we don’t have to deal with the paparazzi, but the divorce process itself is still mentally draining. In the event of a divorce or a break-up, couples need to decide what will happen to their joint assets. The problem is that an estate plan made by a couple while they are together is likely vastly different from one made after they split up. Amidst the emotional turmoil, many individuals may overlook the critical need to update their estate plans.
Sofía Vergara and Joe Manganiello's high-profile divorce serves as a poignant reminder of the significance of revisiting your estate plan after the dissolution of a marriage. When a person gets married, their estate plan is often designed with their spouse in mind, making it necessary to reassess and revise it in the event of a divorce.
Distributing Assets Accordingly
One of the primary reasons to update an estate plan after divorce is to ensure that your assets are distributed according to your current wishes. Typically, a will designates a spouse as the primary beneficiary. In the case of Sofía Vergara and Joe Manganiello's divorce, if they did not update their estate plans, their original beneficiaries would still be listed as each other, which may not align with their new priorities and desires post-divorce.
Protecting Children's Interests
In cases where the couple has children, updating the estate plan becomes even more critical. Parents need to safeguard their children's future by specifying guardianship arrangements, managing inheritance distributions, and establishing trust funds. In this specific case, Sofía Vergara and Joe Manganiello don't have a child together so this won't be a concern for them.
Minimizing Potential Legal Conflicts
By updating their estate plans after divorce, they can help prevent unnecessary legal disputes among surviving family members. Outdated estate plans may lead to confusion and disagreements over asset distribution, leading to costly and protracted legal battles. Sofía Vergara and Joe Manganiello's situation serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us of the importance of updating estate plans to minimize the likelihood of such conflicts.
Addressing Changes in Health Care Decisions
A divorce can also affect health care directives, which outline your preferences for medical treatment and appoint a person to make health care decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. It is essential to review and amend these directives to ensure that the right person is entrusted with making critical health care choices after divorce.
At Monteforte Law, we understand that life can be unpredictable, and significant events like divorce can have far-reaching implications.
Our goal is to help you navigate through life's changes by offering insights and guidance on estate planning matters.
Remember, estate planning is not only for the wealthy and famous - it's for anyone who wants to ensure their loved ones are taken care of in case something happens to them! So don't wait - consult with an estate planning attorney today!