With school now out for the summer, you might have exciting activities planned to make the most of the extra quality time you have with your children.
But one important thing you could do for your kids this summer is protect them with a Will designed to make sure they are well-cared for, even after you’re gone.
A legally binding Will makes sure that your kids are cared for by people you trust and are provided for financially. In this blog we’ll break down why it’s important to have a Will in place as early as possible and how you can get started this summer.
Inheritance
In a world where blended families are common and parents may not necessarily be married to each other; your loved ones may not necessarily automatically inherit what you think they will according to inheritance law.
As non-blood relatives, any stepchildren that you or your partner care for will not automatically inherit any of your assets when you pass away unless you state this wish explicitly in your Will.
Also, if you and your partner aren’t married, they will not automatically inherit your assets and will not be assigned as the guardian of your children if they are not blood related to them.
This makes it important to make sure your wishes are reflected in a legally binding Will.
In your Will you can also decide at what age your children receive full control of their inheritance, as a default this is set to 18, but you can decide to set this later at 21 for example, or put specific conditions on access.
Legal Guardians and Child Care
Assigning legal guardians and making arrangements for childcare should the worst happen is also a crucial part of a Will.
This is especially important if you are a single parent as there may be less suitable childcare candidates for local authorities to choose from in the event of your death. In any case, who you appoint as your children’s guardian is an important decision that should not be taken lightly.
If your children have godparents, it is important to know that the role has no binding legal status and so if you would like a godparent or godparents to look after your children if you pass away, they must be named specifically in your Will.
Don’t have an up-to-date Will in place?
Then you and your family could be missing crucial protections to make sure your children are not left in uncertainty if you pass away.
It is also important that your Will reflects your current family circumstances, so it may need to be updated if you are in a new relationship or have had more children since your previous Will was created.
Start your Will writing journey today
We can help you put a plan in place to care for your family with a Will designed to ensure that your wishes are set in stone and that your family is provided for, whatever the future brings.
Here at Edward Hughes Solicitors our experienced Will writing solicitors can help you make a plan for the worst with a Will you can rely on.
Get in touch with our team for personalised Will writing guidance here: https://www.edwardhugheslaw.co.uk/services/wills-and-probate/making-a-will