Do I need to have a Will now?

[Ol1vertwist]

As I'm a first time Mum to be and am not married to OH will I need to write a Will now to say who I would like our child to be looked after by if anything happened to me or both of us. Or is it automatically assumed she will go to next of kin??

What do you all have in place?

 

[chezziepie]

were looking at a will otherwise i think the family decide in court.. can be costly I'm not too sure how it works but were trying to decide who we want to look after the LO and then we will do one. Also want it in writing where our life insurance goes as were not married.

 

[stouffer]

Keep meaning to get it done but haven't got around to it. Me and my OH are married though so I assume it kind of defaults.

Anyone know how much it costs?

 

[ahcigar1]

My husband and I were planning on having one done for the just in case scenario because you really never know what can happen. We both figure it is something good to have that will keep her protected if by the unlucky chance that something did happen to both of us. And mainly for us we do NOT want LO going to his parents under any condition and so plan on stating that very clearly under no circumstances is anyone in his family allowed to have any kind of custody of her.

 

[tweedy]

we have a will, in the case of one of us dying, the other will get full life insurance and obviously the kids no exception, but if we both were to go, we have named my bil and his wife, they will get the life insurance and bring up the kids, payable immediately (with a small sum left in trust for the kids, but i feel it more important they have a good upbringing rather than a huge lum sum at 25)

we discussed it at length and although i would prefer someone from my side of the family, all my siblings have kids of their own and even though they would take on more, i don't think it's fair, my parents have raised their kids and should enjoy their retirement, my bil could never have kids and has a great relationship with dd, so they are only happy to do it. it's a running joke at christmas how rich they will be if we were to die together....

i am a very organised person and i just think it makes sense to have something in place, i also have a list of things i want my kids to do if i die and they are left with my husband, just the wee ideas i have about their upbringing, eg. no tv in their rooms, sunday dinners at home etc i know he'd probably not do it, but at least they will know how i wanted things to be. he just noted that i wasn't allowed to let them support manu.

 

[tweedy]

Ours cost £180, but we had other things done at the same time, i think it's more important to get the consent of those who would be left with the kids, so there are no surprises and inform others who may take a personal interest, i.e my parents and sisters. they all know our wishes and the document was just to enable my BIL to claim life insurance.

 

[robinator]

We are in the process of doing one. We have asked my brother & SIL if they would be the baby's legal guardians should anything happen to DH and I. It's important to name guardians so your child isn't at the center of a custody battle (especially if they are older). We are also setting it up so that my brother/SIL will get a stipend each month from DH's life insurance so they have extra money to take care of our baby.