Too Busy to Make a Will? Why Parents of Young Children Need One Most

If you have young children, your to-do list probably never ends. School forms, packed lunches, birthday parties, work, and somewhere near the bottom, in a folder marked “one day”, sits the will you’ve been meaning to sort out.

I hear this all the time, and I don’t judge it. Making a will means thinking about something nobody wants to picture, and it can feel easier to wait until life calms down. But for parents, the time when life feels busiest is often when a will matters most.

The question nobody wants to answer

The hardest part of planning for most parents isn’t the money. It’s the question: who would look after the children if neither of us could?

If you don’t name guardians in a will, the decision may be left to others. A court may need to get involved, and that can take time and add stress for the people who love your children, while the children themselves wait for certainty. Naming someone you trust removes that doubt. You choose the person, and you can name a back-up too.

Talking it through together can be uncomfortable. It helps to start small: who would you trust, who lives nearby, and who shares your values? You don’t have to get it perfect today, and you can always change your mind later.

It’s about more than guardians

A will for parents can do other important things:

• Look after money for your children. Children under 18 can’t inherit outright, so a will can set up a trust that holds their inheritance until an age you choose.

• Say who is in charge of your estate. You choose your executors, so the people you trust handle things.

• Protect your wishes in a blended or unmarried family. Without a will, the law decides who inherits, and the result isn’t always what you’d expect, particularly if you’re not married or you have children from previous relationships.

  
  

Don’t forget Lasting Powers of Attorney

Wills deal with what happens after you die. A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) covers what happens if you’re alive but unable to make decisions for yourself, perhaps after an accident or serious illness. It lets someone you trust manage your money or health decisions, and it’s a sensible partner to a will at any age, not just in later life.

You don’t need the jargon

Legal language puts many people off before they’ve even started. It shouldn’t. A good will writer explains each choice in plain English, lets you decide at your own pace, and doesn’t rush you. You’re in control throughout.

Making it easy

I’m a local, independent Will Writer based in Nailsea, and I work with families across North Somerset. There are no call centres and no pressure, it's just me! We start with a conversation about your family, your worries and your wishes, then I draft everything for you to review before you sign.

If a will has been on your list for a while, this could be the week to tick it off. Get in touch on 01275 562575, by email at hello@angelwills.co.uk, or through the contact form, and we can talk through what you need, many families start off with a no obligation chat. Early morning, early evening and weekend appointments are always available.