The possibility of both you and your partner dying while your children are still under 18 verges on the unthinkable but, however unlikely you think this situation might seem, it is important that you make provision for it in your Will. Unless you have given specific instructions, children left without any parents can be placed in care and the court will appoint an official guardian to look after them. You can avoid this happening by appointing a guardian of your choice, providing peace of mind that your children would be left in the care of someone you trust.
Wendy Mustard, private client solicitor with Richard Reed Solicitors in Sunderland, explains more.
The role of a guardian
A child’s natural parents usually have “parental responsibility” for them, and they can appoint a guardian to take on this responsibility in their place if they both die. The guardian will only officially take on this role if there is no one else alive with parental responsibility, and it will end as soon as the child is 18.
Guardians make decisions about important aspects of a child’s life, such as their education, medical treatment and where they live. A guardian is not required to support a child using their own resources, so they need to be provided with regular income or a lump sum of money to help them financially when carrying out their role.
Why you should appoint a guardian
If you die, your children may stay with family or friends but, if you have not appointed a guardian this would be only a temporary arrangement. The local authority might take your children into its care while a court decides what long-term arrangement would be best. This can be more complicated in complex family situations where, for example, there have been second marriages and it may not be immediately obvious where would be best for the children to live. This lack of certainty can be traumatic, especially for young children, and can lead to family disagreements about who should care for them.
As well as providing certainty for your family, appointing a guardian allows you to choose someone you and your children know and trust, and to make a considered choice. For instance, although grandparents might be an obvious option, will they be able to look after teenagers in their old age? You also need to consider things such as where the guardian lives and what this might mean for schooling, and whether you are comfortable with the guardian’s parenting style, values and religious beliefs.
How a solicitor can help
There are lots of issues to consider when appointing a guardian in your Will, so it is important to seek legal advice at an early stage.
Your solicitor can also include financial arrangements for your children in your will. You may wish it to say that if both parents die, the money left after paying debts and expenses – known as the residuary estate – is held on trust for your children until they reach a certain age. The trustees of the money usually have the power to make some of it available for the children’s benefit, for example, to pay school fees or to be given to the guardian to use. Some parents also choose to leave a cash gift to the guardian as an expression of gratitude.
Changing circumstances
Over time you might change your mind about your chosen guardian and want to appoint someone else instead, for example if your first choice becomes ill. Your solicitor can help you make a new Will or a codicil (an addition to your Will that modifies part of it).
Letter of wishes
Your solicitor may also recommend that you have a document known as a letter of wishes. This is read alongside your Will and can provide guidance on how you would like your children to be raised or how trustees should spend money in a trust fund.
Power of attorney
It is also important to consider what would happen if your children were left with only one parent and that parent loses capacity, for example, because of a brain injury. In that situation, a legal document called a lasting power of attorney (LPA) would allow people of your choice to make decisions about your children on your behalf. An LPA cannot give someone legal responsibility for your child, but it can give them the ability to manage your finances. It can also allow them to access your money immediately if necessary, which might be very important where children are concerned.
If you require advice on appointing a guardian, or any other private client or family matter, please contact Wendy Mustard on 0191 567 0465 or email [email protected].
