Are you jetting off abroad this summer or looking forward to spending more time with family during the summer months? As you prepare for the coming weeks, it’s essential to consider the importance of making a Will. Consulting a Will Solicitor before you travel abroad or as the new school year approaches can provide peace of mind and ensure your wishes are carried out in the future.
In this blog, Director and Head of the Wills & Probate Department, Dawn Lamb, explains why summer is a good time to consult a Will Solicitor and carefully think about your later years.
Reflect and Refocus
The balmy days of summer offer a unique opportunity to reflect and focus on future planning amidst the relaxation and joy of longer days spent with family and friends. I am of course being optimistic here that summer will show up, but certainly during this period, whatever the weather, the casual yet profound conversations about life and aspirations often inspire people to think about the future ahead of them. The summertime, with its generally more relaxed schedule, provides an opportune moment to address estate planning without the rush or stress that other times of the year may impose. It’s a season where the pace of life seems to slow down, granting the perfect opportunity to organise personal affairs with careful consideration and the guidance of a professional.
Additionally, with many families gathering together for holidays, family occasions and BBQs, it can be a time for open discussions about wishes and expectations, ensuring that everyone is on the same page. When families spend more time together, this can also, sadly, be a time where you might notice that your elderly relatives are starting to decline in their health, mobility or cohesive thinking.
Making a Will Before Travelling
Embarking on an international journey can be an exciting prospect, yet it’s accompanied by a degree of uncertainty. It’s this unpredictability that underscores the critical nature of having a Will in place before setting off.
Whilst falling ill or being involved in a sudden accident abroad or whilst travelling doesn’t bare thinking about, for some people, knowing that their legal affairs are in order does bring comfort. Just as you would take out travel insurance, it’s worth thinking about putting a Will in place.
There is an increased level of risk when we are away. Often, we’ll try activities we wouldn’t at home, such as quad biking, scuba diving or extreme water sports. Whilst terrible accidents are rare, they do occur.
Many countries have lower road safety levels than the UK. Along with less progressive health and safety regulations in general.
Some places in the world face natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis and extremely hot weather. There is the additional risk of diseases, food poisoning or animal bites, and medical care in other countries might not be quite up to the standards we are used to in the UK.
If you are travelling off the beaten track, going on an extreme sports holiday or to a particularly high-risk part of the world, then it is important to make sure you are up to date on your vaccinations, have taken recommended health precautions and updated your travel insurance.
Engaging with a Will Solicitor can safeguard your assets and well-being of your loved relatives should any unforeseen events occur while you are overseas. The act of creating a Will prior to departure is a prudent step, ensuring that, regardless of distance, your affairs back home are structured and secure. This proactive approach allows travellers to embrace their adventures with a composed mindset, aware that their estate matters are meticulously arranged. It also mitigates potential complications and stresses for family members, who can find solace in the clarity of your wishes during what could be a challenging time.
Parents: Preparing for the New School Year
As summer draws to a close and the anticipation of the new school year begins, parents are presented with a pivotal opportunity to reflect on their family’s future security. The process of preparing children to return to school is not only about purchasing new uniforms or organising schedules; it’s also an appropriate time for parents to contemplate their legal affairs.
Before the chaos of schools runs and juggling work, home, school timetables and activities begin all over again, it would be sensible to look at your existing Will (if you have one) to ensure that your details and wishes are up to date. Or if you are yet to write Wills, book an appointment over the summer holidays to visit a Solicitor.
Getting prepared before the academic year commences, allows parents to focus on the immediate demands of the school term with a settled mind, knowing their legacy and their children’s future are well protected.
Writing You Will This Summer
Making a Will is likely to be far more straightforward than you think. You can make a good start by thinking about the following points and making some notes, you could even do this whilst sitting by the pool on holiday or whilst relaxing in your garden.
- Who would you appoint as legal guardians for your children
- Who do you trust to be your executor/s
- Think about your assets – property, investments, savings etc.
- Who do you wish to benefit from your estate
- Do you have any complicated family circumstances that need to be considered
- Do you want to leave money to a charity in your Will
- Do you have any specific funeral wishes
- Where do you store your important documents
Get in touch with our friendly and experienced Will Solicitors at Barker Booth & Eastwood. We can start the process by booking you an initial appointment for an informal chat about making your Will.
Call us on 01253 362 500, email info@bbelaw.co.uk or complete the enquiry form on our website to receive more information about changing your Will or updating your existing one.
