Estate Planning for Military Families & Veterans
Built for military families & veterans— by someone who's lived it.
Tonya Bordeaux spent 13 years as a Navy spouse before becoming an attorney. She built Bordeaux Legacy Law to help military families, veterans, and their loved ones protect what matters — on your schedule, not office hours.
Why Military Families Need a Different Approach
Standard estate plans assume you'll stay in one place. Military life doesn't work that way.
PCS-Proof Planning
Your trust needs to hold whether you're stationed in San Diego, overseas in Bahrain, or anywhere the Navy sends you next.
Deployment Readiness
What happens to your children if both parents deploy? A standard guardianship nomination might not be enough across state lines.
SGLI Coordination
Your $400k SGLI policy is essential coverage — but it doesn't automatically flow through your trust unless you plan for it.
Blended Family Complexity
Yours, mine, ours. Second marriages. Ex-spouses with custody rights. These situations need specific provisions — I know, I live it too.
Military families and veterans face estate planning challenges that civilian families simply don't encounter. Frequent relocations, overseas assignments, deployment risks, and the complexity of military benefits all require specialized knowledge.
As a former Navy spouse who lived overseas and navigated the military lifestyle for 13 years, I understand these challenges personally — not just professionally. Whether you're active duty, a military spouse, or a veteran transitioning to civilian life, your estate plan deserves someone who truly gets it.
The Unique Challenges Military Families Face
Frequent Relocations (PCS)
Every PCS move raises questions about your estate plan. Is your trust still valid in California if you're stationed in Virginia? What about overseas? A properly drafted California trust can travel with you, but it needs to be structured correctly from the start.
How we address this: We create trusts designed for mobility, with provisions that remain effective regardless of where you're stationed.
Dual Deployment Scenarios
If both parents are active duty, or if a single parent deploys, who has legal authority over your children? A simple will naming a guardian isn't enough — you need a Family Care Plan that integrates with your estate documents.
How we address this: We coordinate your estate plan with your military Family Care Plan requirements, ensuring no gaps in protection.
SGLI & Military Benefits
Your Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) provides up to $500,000 in coverage. But SGLI beneficiary designations operate outside your will or trust. Without proper coordination, these funds might not go where you intend — or could be paid outright to minor children.
How we address this: We help you coordinate SGLI beneficiary designations with your trust to ensure funds are managed appropriately.
Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)
The SBP provides ongoing income to your spouse, but the election is irrevocable and affects your retirement pay. Your estate plan should account for how SBP fits into your overall financial picture.
How we address this: We consider SBP in the context of your complete estate plan, helping you understand how all pieces work together.
State of Legal Residence
Military families can maintain legal residence in one state while stationed in another. This affects which state's laws govern your estate plan, your tax situation, and where probate would occur.
How we address this: For families maintaining California residency, we ensure your documents comply with California law while remaining practical for your actual location.
Blended Military Families
Second marriages, children from prior relationships, and ex-spouses with custody rights create additional complexity. Military benefits, survivor benefits, and inheritance rights all need careful consideration.
How we address this: As a blended family ourselves (five boys between us), I understand these dynamics personally and build plans that protect everyone fairly.
Essential Documents for Military Families
A complete estate plan for military families typically includes:
Revocable Living Trust
Avoids probate and provides flexibility as your situation changes with each duty station.
Pour-Over Will
Catches any assets not transferred to your trust and names guardians for minor children.
Durable Power of Attorney
Allows someone to handle financial matters if you're deployed or incapacitated.
Advance Healthcare Directive
Documents your medical wishes and names someone to make healthcare decisions for you.
HIPAA Authorization
Allows designated people to access your medical information.
Guardianship Nominations
Coordinates with your military Family Care Plan for comprehensive child protection.
Ready to Protect Your Military Family?
Start your estate plan online, on your schedule. No office visits required — because I know military life doesn't fit into business hours.
Questions first? See how the process works