Getting my affairs in order, help needed.

[Emptywishingwell]

I have been thinking lately and realised I have nothing in place for my children for the future and in the event of my death I want everything as simple and straightforward as possible.

I am single, in my late 20's and have two under 18's. I am also clueless about what happens in terms of finance etc after one dies.

So, could someone explain what happens after death on the paperwork/finance side and also what I can/should have in place beforehand?

I want to purchase a pre-paid funeral plan so my wishes are known and so its one less pressure for my children to organise/pay for. I also know I need to look into making a will.

[GasLightShining]

There is mumsnetter called Mumblechum who is a will writer. She advertises in the classified under (I think) Marlow Wills. She will be able to advise and draft a will for you

A fair few mumsnetters have used her and I am sure a few on them will be on here to sing her praises.

[Mumblechum1]

GasLightShining

Thank you very much for the mention

OP, I do recommend that you make a will for 3 main reasons:

1. to choose who would look after your finances after you die (your executors). They'd also act as trustees in the unlikely event that your children were under 18/21. This means that they'd look after the children's money until they were old enough to take control themselves.
   

1. to decide where your money will go. It would probably be a no-brainer that you'd wish the children to share your estate equally but you may of course wish to make smallish gifts of cash or personal possessions to a friend or charity.
   

1. last but not least to choose a guardian. This is someone who would look after the children if they were under 18 at your death. How this works would depend on whether you were married to their dad in the past, and various other factors such as what their relationship with him is like.
   

I really wouldn't bother paying for a funeral plan at your age. This is something you could sort our when you're mid sixties or so. If you did die young then the funeral costs would simply come out of your estate.

You don't mention whether you have life insurance or death in service benefit through work; again this is something to consider.

If you'd like any further info please feel free to PM me or check out the advert over on classifieds.

[Emptywishingwell]

Sorry for the delay in replying.

Thank you for getting back to me. The information is helpful and gives me something to think about. I think I will work out a basic plan so I can think of making a will. I would need to find some kind of executor/guardian as I am not sure I have anyone really.

I will look into life insurance as I don't have it. My first thought was the prepaid funeral plan so it can all be easily taken care of to follow my wishes and to ease financial issues as I'm unlikely to have a sufficient estate for sometime just in case anything happens before it should.