Posts tagged “Guardianship”

Parents with young children should include them in their Wills.
Every year, thousands of children under the age of 18 lose one of their parents. As long as both parents are co-guardians then their remaining parent can look after them. 
 
However, more than half of the UK’s parents don’t have a valid Will. They might not have one at all or they have one that’s out of date. 
People are now more than ever realising that their affairs should be put in order. And with the situation as it currently is, there is a sharp rise in people suddenly jumping on the bandwagon and setting themselves up in their bedroom as Will Writers, offering cheap online Wills. So why should you choose someone like Angela Jane Will Writing over a online cheap will? 
 
The Covid-19 pandemic puts things in perspective and shows just how crucial it is to make and put in place a Will or Lasting Power of Attorney. With concerns at the forefront for both clients and Will Writers in the event of a ‘lockdown. 
 
There will be a lot of advisors worried about carrying out face to face meetings, in particular with vulnerable clients, and how it will affect themselves too. 
 
The outbreak of Covid-19 in the UK population will, for many, bring into sharp focus the importance of having in place an up-to-date will. As it become necessary for companies to work at home, and restrict face to face contact with clients, or even close their doors temporarily, this could impact on the ability of clients to put in place new wills or Lasting Power of Attorney documents. 
 
For clients who are self-isolating or do not wish have a face-to-face meeting, there are other options available. I can offer Telephone call for will writing services in which I can take instructions and provide advice over the telephone, and then providing draft and final wills via email or post. 
 
In usual circumstances, those with complex needs will usually benefit from a face to face meeting, but if face to face contact is restricted, there is no reason a detailed conference could not take place over the telephone or by video call. 
 
The position in relation to vulnerable clients, including those in nursing homes or hospitals, is likely to be more complex. Such people often need face to face meetings as it may not be possible to take their instructions using other methods, and there are more likely to be concerns about issues such as capacity and undue influence. I where possible will remain for as long as possible willing to carry out visits to such clients, but hurdles will be faced if, for example, many nursing homes and hospitals are restricting visits. In such cases it will probably be necessary to liaise closely with family members and relevant parties such as nursing home staff, in order to try and facilitate the most appropriate arrangements for meetings to take place with these vulnerable clients. It goes without saying that those undertaking visits will need to be mindful of guidance regarding close contact with individuals in order to protect themselves and others as far as possible. 
 
I am always at the end of a phone for help and advice. 
If you and your partner have a young child or you are considering starting a family, imagine what would happen if you both died. 
 
It’s a subject that most of us don’t want to think about. However, you can appoint a parental guardian in your Will and make financial arrangements to support your child. 
The nine-year-old who got nothing – the parents of a young child divorced, and both later remarried. Just a year after remarrying, the mother died, leaving her nine-year-old child behind.  
 
Of course, losing a young woman in her forties was a shock for all the family. However, what hadn’t been realised is that marriage cancels existing wills
 
Strictly, the mother’s new husband could claim her entire estate, and he did. Although attempts were made to secure some of the mother’s estate for the child, they were unsuccessful. The child grew up to be a lawyer, but never forgot the impact this experience had on her.