Congratulations!

A real adventure is about to start.

 As you start adjusting your lives to the new addition(s) to the family, you may wish to think about revising or making Wills.

Parenthood is all about responsibility, one of which is to ensure that should you no longer be around to look after your child(ren) that someone is. Moreover that person should be someone who you choose.

Guardians.

Guardians are not necessarily the people with whom your children may live. So if you wanted a person from ‘each side of the family’ (eg husband’s sister and wife’s sister), then you may.

Age contingency.

In addition, an important point to consider is the age at which your children should inherit.

The questions you should ask yourselves include:-

•  If I had been orphaned at an early age, what would I have done with a large inheritance at the age of 18?
• Without the benefit of the advice from my parents, what would I have done with my education when my finances would have, on the face of it, been secure? 
• Would I have had the same drive and motivation to achieve all that I have done so far in my life?

The answers to these questions are down to the individual. So will be each decision about the age at which your children are inherit. The Government has written trust law designed to see people inherit at 18. Whether you think Gordon Brown is the best person to decide what is best for your children is something you need to think about.

In the worst case scenario.

Another point you should consider is what will happen to your estate should you die at the same time as your spouse and child(ren) in some freak accident.

This is what we call a default provision. People in the 20 to 40 years old bracket tend to make Wills saying that in this event:-

• half of husband's estate passes to his family
• half of husband's estate passes to his in laws
• half of wife's estate passes to her family,
• half of wife's estate passes to her in laws.

Most people take the view that in this event, the most dependent people have died and so treating the different sides of the family equally is the most appropriate way to proceed.

It is up to you but we hope this gives you some ideas.

Cost 

We offer fixed-fee Will writing for expectant couples of £275.00 (including VAT).  That includes the cost of two Wills.

Is someone likely to contest your Will?

If you think some people might not take too kindly to your decisions and try to contest your Will, you might be interested in The Vital Testimony. While this will add to the cost it should avoid your beneficiaries paying thousands of pounds to lawyers in the future.

If you would like to make Wills, please complete the following: