How to plan who gets dd, help please!

[missseptember]

I don't wish to be morbid but my mum and I were talking the other day about what would happen to dd if something were to happen to me. I am a single mum and her dad very rarely sees her, for example it has currently been 6weeks since we last heard from him but it can be anything up to 3/4months. My mum has a lot of contact with dd and I said I would want her to be brought up by my mum. It is ridculously unlikely that xp would contest this as he works chef's hours, smokes and drinks heavily and would not be prepared to give that up to bring up a child, I'm not even sure he would know how!
To get to my point, my mum said I should have this officially noted to make it easier if the worst did happen. Does anyone know how I go about it? Does it involve making a will (I have nothing else to put in a will)? Would it cost a lot of money?
Please help, think it's something worth doing, just not sure how!

The starting point is a will. These are not expensive. The cost will vary depending on your solicitor but mine cost me about £50.

You can put in it that you want your mum to have your daughter but your ex can of course contest it. That is his right.

A court would then consider how much/little contact he has had, versus your mum, the age/wishes of your DD and make a decision based on that.

Great post from NG2. I'm at a similar point but with my sister. It's been weeks. It's better to have a plan than none even though the bottom line is that it could be contested.

Thanks for the advice! I know he can contest it, but I really don't think he would, it would be too much trouble for him and I think my mum would be more likely to get her anyway. My mum also knows I still want him allowed access to her even if I'm not around to enforce it.

i am legal guardian of my friends 2 children and executor of her will if she dies.

her mum is around and would be involved,but she went to a solicitor and got this all drawn up officially. childrens dad is not allowed contact but still as pr so i guess it would be still up to authorities to decide what happens,but those are her thoughts and wishes

my DS1's dad lives in austria and we have no contact with him - he signed over all parental rights and resposibilities to me before i left austria. DS2's dad has never shown any interest in him and doesn't pay a fig in support.

i have a will which clearly states that custody and gaurdianship of my boys should go to my elder brother. He has signed a letter stating that he is ready, willing and able to take the boys on (he is DS's Godfather anyway).

It really is best to get it down on paper and notarised by lawyer.

Consult a lawyer: what you want is perfectly reasonable but if it is officially set down then it will put all your minds at rest. I'm a single parent too but luckily have a good co-parent relationship with DS' dad and if I were to drop dead, his dad would have him with my blessing and that of the rest of the family - however if there had been any doubt I would have arranged the necessary paperwork via a solicitor so it was there.