Children and planning should the worst happen

[Gusanita]

It's a depressing topic, but since becoming a parent I have become scared of what should happen to my daughter if I were to die. Does anyone know if there's anything I would be able to do that would cover things such as who would look after her? Is this the kind of thing that you could put in a will and if it is what's a cheap way to do a legally recognised will?

[bga]

In our will we have info relating to provision for our daughter. We discussed various situations with family members and have most likely events covered. IIRC our will cost £50 each for me & my wife. I felt it was money well spent as we put thought into things that we had not previously considered.

[OwenK]

Only partially relevant but I have been informed that children will automatically become the responsibility of the other birth parent, should one of them die. Anything written in a will will be taken into account but is not necessarily gospel. Probably not a problem for most people but extremely so for me - should my fiancee pass away, my stepson would immediately pass into the care of his biological father who has not seen him since before his first birthday - rather than passing to me, the person who has raised him from the day he was born.

[theboss]

OwenK said:

Only partially relevant but I have been informed that children will automatically become the responsibility of the other birth parent, should one of them die. Anything written in a will will be taken into account but is not necessarily gospel. Probably not a problem for most people but extremely so for me - should my fiancee pass away, my stepson would immediately pass into the care of his biological father who has not seen him since before his first birthday - rather than passing to me, the person who has raised him from the day he was born.

That's interesting, I'm in a similar position. My stepson is nine though and more than capable of expressing his own wishes, so I hope these would be taken fully into account if we ever ended up in that position.

I need to make some similar arrangements formally in a will, as we recently took out a hefty life assurance policy and I'm deeply concerned that in the event that we both died there would be all sorts of long lost family members wanting to take the children in whilst gleefully rubbing their hands... Sad but true...

[Jasandjules]

OwenK said:

Only partially relevant but I have been informed that children will automatically become the responsibility of the other birth parent, should one of them die. Anything written in a will will be taken into account but is not necessarily gospel. Probably not a problem for most people but extremely so for me - should my fiancee pass away, my stepson would immediately pass into the care of his biological father who has not seen him since before his first birthday - rather than passing to me, the person who has raised him from the day he was born.

Surely then adopt/apply to become the legal guardian in order that you become next of kin......

[Tycho]

My wife and I did a "Will Aid" will which IIRC allows you to get a free will from a solicitors in return for you donating the fee to charity.

If the worst happened to both of us then our son would be brought up by my brother and sister in law and my son would get the estate held in trust.

[OwenK]

Jasandjules said:

OwenK said:

Only partially relevant but I have been informed that children will automatically become the responsibility of the other birth parent, should one of them die. Anything written in a will will be taken into account but is not necessarily gospel. Probably not a problem for most people but extremely so for me - should my fiancee pass away, my stepson would immediately pass into the care of his biological father who has not seen him since before his first birthday - rather than passing to me, the person who has raised him from the day he was born.

Surely then adopt/apply to become the legal guardian in order that you become next of kin......

That's the plan, but the process takes a year and there's a 2 year waiting list before you even get looked at...