One of the biggest fears of any parent is that they die leaving young children. Of course, we all want to leave our children what we can in financial terms, but if they are under 18 then they will also need a guardian to look after them.
It is sometimes assumed, wrongly, that a stepparent or grandparent will assume responsibility, but this is only guaranteed if you have left directions in your Will and you have not remarried since. Otherwise, the State will decide who becomes the legal guardian of your children in the event of your death and this could end up with them going into state care.
Having a valid will allows parents to set out who will be granted guardianship in the event of their death and it can make financial provision both in the short term and long term so that your children are properly looked after and given the best start possible without their parents support.
It is worth knowing that without a Will, siblings might be separated due to circumstances or legal procedure, especially where they have different parents from your former marriages. Furthermore, if you are leaving wealth behind, you might want to make provision for a trust for the benefit of your children rather than leaving them a large inheritance on their 18th birthday!
Making a Will is absolutely critical if you have young children or wealth to leave to children of any age. The more complicated your personal and financial life, the more important such a document becomes.
For more information see our Wills and Estate Planning page or speak to an adviser on 01628 507477.
Download our Free First Time Buyers Guide
Recent posts
Best UK Mortgage Rates this Week
5 days ago
Here are the lowest fixed mortgage rates of the week, available to first-time buyers, home movers, buy-to-let, and those remortgaging.
Call us for more information: 01628 507477 or email: team@mortgagerequired.com.
Maidenhead, Berkshire – 26th January 2026 – Dedicated independent mortgage experts, Mortgage Required, are delighted to have acquired fellow experienced brokerage, Y-Not Finance.
The acquisition connects two well-respected brokerages, both with a wealth of experience and shared values, to continue providing the best advice on all aspects of the mortgage market.
As part of the UK government’s plans to change the leasehold system to help families struggling with unaffordable ground rent costs.
The Prime Minister announced this morning (27 January) that ground rents will be capped at £250 per year, reverting to a peppercorn rate after 40 years.
Additional borrowing, also known as a further advance, is when you borrow more money on your existing mortgage for a specific reason agreed with your lender.
Here are five of the most common reasons for additional borrowing.
UK Housing Market Round-Up: 2025
30 Dec 2025
Property search site Zoopla has estimated that the UK housing market will end 2025 with approximately 1.15 million completed sales – 4.5% more than the previous year.
Take a look at the 2025 summary of the UK housing market.
Buying in the New Year
29 Dec 2025
If buying your first property, or moving home, is on your to-do list this year, the new year can be a great time to take this big step. In this short blog, we look at what you need to consider as you plan and prepare for your home-buying journey.
Just because the Bank of England decides to reduce the base rate, this doesn't automatically mean that your mortgage rate will go down.
Autumn Budget 2025: A Summary
26 Nov 2025
Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has delivered the Autumn 2025 budget. We have summarised the government's plans for tax and spending.
More information
Trusted by
