Do you really want strangers looking after your children?
When I ask my clients why they haven’t prepared a Will, the answer most of them give me is “appointment of guardians”. Parents just don’t know whom to ask to look after their children should they no longer be around to do so themselves. They don’t want to upset family members by asking friends and don’t want to upset friends by asking family members – and is your own parent an appropriate person to look after a growing toddler or teenager?
It’s easier to forget about it and not worry about it (for now) than to actually sit down and talk about it. According to the Office of National Statistics, two thirds of us die without a Will and given that over 24,000 children are bereaved of a parent each year in Britain I do wonder why so many parents are willing to risk our child’s future happiness, safety and wellbeing by not writing a Will or at least appointing a guardian.
The longer you delay, the more you are exposing your family to intense disputes played out in court and even having your child placed into foster care whilst waiting for a guardian to be appointed to care for them. Is this what you really want?
Your children may not receive what you intended financially, or at an appropriate age as the laws of intestacy would apply or indeed your children may not inherit at all.
Make sure you to talk to both guardians and children about any plans for the future if anything should happen to ensure your children are left with a sense of security and the feeling that they will be loved and wanted by those whom you have appointed to look after them if you are no longer around.
Many people believe that writing a Will is going to cost lots of money. What with the rising cost of living, wage freezes and energy bills it is no wonder Wills get put on the back burner. However, depending upon your circumstances, here at Crane & Staples Wills, can cost from as little as £250 for two people – which when compared to court costs, uncertainty as to whom may be appointed and you, as parents, not having a say in any of it, can you put a price on your child's future?
Whilst writing a Will is not something we necessarily want to do, I strongly believe it should be something we must do not only for our own peace of mind but for our children because we care for them, we love them but no matter what, if we cannot be there for them, we always want the best for them.
If you want to know more about writing a Will or appointing a guardian, please speak to one of the team in the Private Client Department on 01707 387074.
Erica Pearce-Howard