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Original poster

Making a will now we have a child

4 replies

Polly2345 · 30/05/2017 17:09

Has anyone made a will since having children? If so, have you appointed someone to be their guardian if you die? How did you choose someone, who did you choose and how did you ask them?

Our DD has several aunties and uncles. Not sure how to choose who to ask!

Thanks in advance.

OP posts:

BackforGood · 31/05/2017 00:47

What we did, is appoint 2 people to 'make the best decision at the time' should they ever have to.
Lives change. Your dc could be at different ages / stages in their lives should the worst ever happen, from when you write the will - most of us don't continually go back and revise it each year. Also, the life circumstances of the people you originally think would be the best possible people to take your dc in, can change drastically.
We chose 2 people (who are both 'Aunty' or 'Uncle' to my dc, but not related to each other), both of whom are really sensible people, who would move heaven and earth to ensure they did the best by our children should they ever have needed to.
We just asked them. Told them we were making wills and asked them if it is something thy would consider taking on. Asked them to take time to think about it.

GoodyGoodyGumdrops · 31/05/2017 00:54

We took advice from a lawyer who said that appointing guardians for your dc would be considered an expression of your preference, but would not be binding in the same way as you stating to whom you left your money. SS would have the final say, though they would consider your preferences and instructions, and only do something different if they felt it would not be in the children's best interests to live with the people you had selected.

Original poster

Polly2345 · 31/05/2017 16:23

Thank you. That's really helpful. Like the 'best decision at the time' approach.

I did wonder how SS would be involved.

OP posts:

BackforGood · 31/05/2017 18:57

In truth, if family (or friends) are there, and willing, social services are not going to stand in the way. They have far too many children to look after who don't have offers of homes and families to love them to spend time refusing to let loved children go to the families their parents wanted them to, should the worst ever happen.

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