The importance of appointing a Guardian for your children.
Are you busy with young children and keep putting off making a Will?
If the answer to this question is yes, then you are not alone. Many parents of young children put off making a Will for years. It is of course expected that we will all live a long life, into retirement, enjoying the company of our children and grandchildren. However, unfortunately this is not always the case.
A Will should be on the list of essential things to do when you are expecting a baby – along with; pram, steriliser and Moses basket. Postponing writing your Will is a risky strategy for anyone, but especially for parents of young children. In the awful event that both parents die, there is a risk of lengthy court battles, family disputes and potentially even temporary foster care for the children of the deceased.
Choosing who will care for the children if both parents die is a difficult process and one that can be very hard to talk over with a partner and loved ones. The guardian may be, for example, a close relative such as a grandparent or sibling. However, it does need to be discussed with both your partner and the potential guardian to protect your children in the event of an untimely death. Bereavement councillors suggest that it is also beneficial for the choice of guardian to be discussed with the children in question if they are old enough, this is of course a personal preference.
If both parents die with no Will in place and no official Guardians are appointed, the children may be placed in foster care whilst the court appoints a suitable Guardian. This scenario can be avoided by planning now how your children will be cared for in the event of your death.
Your Will can detail who will be responsible for caring for your children and how the estate will be distributed to provide for the children’s future. If you die without making a Will then you will be Intestate and subject to Intestate rules. It is easy to assume that your wishes regarding your children and estate will be honoured in the event of your death. Without a valid Will in place, this is seldom the case.
The prospect of an untimely death is hard to confront head on, particularly when considering your children coping without one or both parents.
There are approximately 36,500 children bereaved of a parent in the UK each year.
If there is no valid Will in place, then confusion regarding the estate can be an additional source of stress for the surviving family, particularly for children of the deceased.
Lawson-West can support you to write your Will
Drawing up a Will can be an emotional process, but it is not expensive or time consuming and can be completed at a convenient time to you at any of our 3 offices in Leicester, Market Harborough and Wigston. Writing your Will is not something to shelve at the bottom of the ‘To Do’ list, it is an essential one that once sorted will put your mind at ease. Call Lawson-West’s Wills and Probate Team on 0116 212 1000 or 01858 445 480 and book your appointment today. Alternatively, complete our online express contact form and we will contact you directly.
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