More families than ever are part of the “sandwich generation” — adults who are financially or caregiving-responsible for aging parents while still supporting adult children. In 2026, this reality creates unique estate planning challenges that traditional plans often fail to address.
If you’re supporting loved ones on both sides, your estate plan needs to protect you while ensuring everyone who depends on you is cared for properly.
Why the Sandwich Generation Needs Specialized Estate Planning
Supporting multiple generations creates competing priorities. Without careful planning, you may face:
- Financial strain from long-term care costs
- Unclear expectations among family members
- Risk of depleting your own retirement savings
- Conflict over caregiving roles
- Inheritance disputes among siblings or children
Estate planning helps bring structure, clarity, and protection to these complex family dynamics.
Learn more about comprehensive planning at our Estate Planning Services page.
Planning for Aging Parents Without Jeopardizing Your Estate
If you help manage a parent’s finances or care, your plan should account for:
- Who will make decisions if you become incapacitated
- Whether you’ve commingled funds with a parent
- Reimbursement for caregiving expenses
- Medicaid planning concerns
- Housing arrangements or shared property
Important steps include:
- Avoiding informal “handshake” financial arrangements
- Keeping clear documentation of support provided
- Making sure powers of attorney are properly structured
- Ensuring your own estate plan does not assume unlimited resources
Without safeguards, caregiving responsibilities can unintentionally drain your estate.
Supporting Adult Children Without Creating Dependency
Many parents continue to support adult children due to:
- Student loan debt
- Housing affordability
- Health issues
- Career transitions
Estate planning can provide help without creating long-term dependency by:
- Using trusts instead of outright gifts
- Setting conditions or milestones for distributions
- Protecting assets from creditors or divorce
- Treating children equitably but not necessarily equally
Trust-based planning is often the most effective solution. Learn more at our Trusts & Estate Planning page.
Protecting Your Own Financial Future
One of the biggest risks for the sandwich generation is sacrificing retirement security. Your estate plan should:
- Prioritize your long-term financial stability
- Plan for your own incapacity and long-term care
- Address what happens if support obligations continue after your death
- Prevent children from inheriting responsibilities they are unprepared to manage
An estate plan should support loved ones without putting your own future at risk.
Final Thoughts
Estate planning for the sandwich generation is about balance. With thoughtful planning, you can support aging parents, help adult children, and still protect your own financial future.
If you’re navigating multigenerational responsibilities, Hurban Law can help you design an estate plan that reflects real life in 2026 — not outdated assumptions.
