In need of advice on writing a will

icicat

Hello all,

I've been holding off writing a will for years now and I really need to get round to it.

I'm not married, but have a partner of 10 years and we have a 5 year old daughter together.

The thing is I have valuable possessions I would want my daughter to have when she is older so would I need to articulate that in the will? With regards to my estate, I own a maisonette in which we live in and have savings in the bank. I'm concerned about leaving all of it to my partner as what if in future she and our daughter have a fight and never speak again or she marries someone who would be entitled to half of everything?

Just looking for advice as to how I would go about this? 

Mark_d

This is precisely what a will is for - So that you can decide what happens to your estate when you die.

My situation is simple in that I'm married with no kids.  I want everything to go to my spouse when I die.  I think I can get away without a will but most other people should probably get one.

p00hsticks

icicat said:

Hello all,

I've been holding off writing a will for years now and I really need to get round to it.

I'm not married, but have a partner of 10 years and we have a 5 year old daughter together.

The thing is I have valuable possessions I would want my daughter to have when she is older so would I need to articulate that in the will? With regards to my estate, I own a maisonette in which we live in and have savings in the bank. I'm concerned about leaving all of it to my partner as what if in future she and our daughter have a fight and never speak again or she marries someone who would be entitled to half of everything?

Just looking for advice as to how I would go about this? 

Find a STEP solicitor to draw up a will for you - they will go through all the possibilities and consequences and draw up something that meets your needs. I'm sure what yo uwant is achievable but your situation is too complicated to try to  do it yourself. 
For the Public | STEP

RAS

There are ways to allow your partner to benefit from the property, but to ensure it is protected for your child(ren) if she remarries. As your child(ren) will be minors, it is important to think about trustees as well.

You really do need a STEP lawyer as the wording has to be precise.

And working with a similar situation in which one parent will not work again because of a sudden health issue, make sure you have LPAs in place, and either term life insurance (cheap) or some critical illness support(££££££). 

icicat

Thanks for all your advice. Ok so seems I need a STEP to do this right. I will look into doing that. @RAS yes I may look into critical illness also.

RAS

You can do the LPAs on-line for a small fee. Depending on your family situation you may want to members of your birth family and your partner as attorneys, either joint or replacement.

Savvy_Sue

As long as you're not married, the LPA is pretty much as important as the will, IMO. If either of you loses capacity - accident, illness etc - the other may really struggle to manage finances, because they will have no 'official' status. Likewise with the Health LPA: you may have the unedifying situation where your family are arguing with her over what's the right thing to do if you're not in a position to say what you want.