3 reasons every parent needs a will
If you have children, you need a will to secure their future. Over the next few minutes, we’ll explain the 3 ways your will protects your family, and how you can get it done online in less than 15 minutes.
1. Avoid chaos for your kids
This may sound dramatic, but if you’ve ever dealt with someone’s estate after they died without a will, you’ll understand.
What would they have wanted? That’s the question most people are left asking themselves. What kind of funeral did they want? Where would they have liked their ashes scattered? How did they want to divide up their estate? No child should be left to answer these questions on their own, least of all when they’re mourning the death of a parent.
With Farewill, you can provide all these answers in as little as 15 minutes – all from the comfort and privacy of your own home.
2. Appoint legal guardians
Most parents assume that, if they die, their children would automatically be put under the care of a close friend or relative. But unless you have a will setting out your wishes, it’s actually the courts who decide what happens to them. This uncertainty can be extremely distressing for the children involved, and it can sometimes lead to them being looked after by someone you wouldn’t have chosen.
It’s never nice to think about your children having to live without you, but it’s even worse not having a plan in place. By writing your will online for just £100, you can appoint legal guardians to make sure they’re always in good hands.
3. Secure their financial future
Whether your children are mischievous toddlers, moody teenagers or fully-grown adults, you need a will to set out exactly how much you want them to inherit.
If you die without a will, your estate is divided up following the laws of intestacy. This is a kind of flowchart that defines where your money goes. For most traditional families, this works well, but it rarely takes into account modern family structures, like step children or children from a previous relationship. In these cases, a will is essential to make sure everyone gets a fair share.
As well as setting out who gets what, your will also allows you to list out all your property and accounts in one simple, easy-to-understand document. This helps make sure nothing goes missing in unknown pensions or savings pots when you die – believe it or not, the average amount lost when someone dies without a will in the UK is a hefty £9700.
How to get your will sorted in less than 15 minutes
Follow our simple step-by-step guide to start writing your will online. It’s free to try and, if you want to take a break, you can save your progress and come back to it whenever it suits you.
Alternatively, if you'd like extra support, write your will with a professional. They'll talk you through things over the telephone and answer any questions. There's no hassle, no awkward trips to a solicitors office, or expensive parking fees. Just someone to listen and make sure your wishes are clear.