Who looks after your children when you pass away?

The worry of what will happen to your children when you pass away is something that concerns most parents. Unfortunately there is no guarantee that your children will be looked after by someone they are close to or indeed who you can trust when you pass away. Sometimes the answer to who will look after your children is very clear to you; but unfortunately if it is not expressed in your Will then after you pass away family members can end up in disputes and even Court proceedings which is no doubt unsettling for the children at what is already a difficult time.

The best way of ensuring that your children are cared for should anything happen to you is to make a Will. In your Will you can appoint a guardian of your choice to care for your children. Many people do not consider this option either because they feel they are too young or because they feel they have no assets to leave. However the most valuable thing to you, i.e. your children, need to be cared for in your Will in more than just the financial sense.

In your Will you can decide who would raise your children should anything happen to you and/or your partner. If you do not make a Will choosing a guardian for your children then this could fall to the nearest blood relation who is willing to take on the responsibility. Of course this may not necessarily be the person you would choose for personal or practical reasons.

If you would like information about making a Will to ensure your children have a guardian should anything happen to you, please contact Christian Jenkins at Lawson-West on 01858 445 480. We can also help you with powers of attorney, probate, inheritance tax and court of protection applications.

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