Before the estate descends to the children or any third parties, there are some possibilities for planning your estate "horizontally" so that it passes on to your spouse or life partner (first). Often the predeceasing spouse will wish to leave his/her spouse a substantial part of the estate, in the absence of any descendants. In this regard, a marriage contract is a vital instrument which gives you the advantage of estate planning that includes your spouse. There are also possibilities for partners who do not opt for marriage, such as a cohabitation contract.