September: A Fresh Start for Your Family’s Future 🍂

September always feels like a month of new beginnings.

The summer holidays come to an end, children return to school, routines settle back into place and, for many families, life finally becomes a little more organised.

With that fresh-start feeling in the air, September is also a great time to deal with something that is very easy to keep putting off - your Will and Estate Planning.

When did you last review your Will?

Making a Will isn’t necessarily something you do once and then forget about. Life changes, and your Will should continue to reflect the people, property and circumstances that matter to you.

Perhaps this year you have:

🏡 Moved house or purchased a new property

💍 Married, separated or started a new relationship

👶 Welcomed a new child or grandchild

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Become part of a blended family

💷 Seen a significant change in your finances or assets

❤️ Changed your mind about who you would like to benefit from your estate

Even if nothing significant has changed, September can be a useful reminder to take your Will out, read through it and make sure you're still happy with everything it says.

Back to school… but have you appointed Guardians?

For parents of younger children, the start of a new school year often brings home just how quickly they are growing up.

One of the most important decisions parents can consider when making a Will is who they would wish to care for their children if both parents were to die while the children were still minors.

A Will can record your choice of Guardians and can also include provisions dealing with how an inheritance should be managed for your children until they reach the age you have chosen.

It isn't an enjoyable scenario to think about, but having appropriate arrangements in place can provide valuable reassurance.

Your Will isn't the only document worth reviewing

September is also a good opportunity to think about Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs).

A Will deals with what happens after your death. An LPA can help during your lifetime if circumstances arise in which you need somebody else to make certain decisions on your behalf.

There are two types:

Property & Financial Affairs – covering matters such as finances, bills, banking and property.

Health & Welfare – covering decisions relating to your care, treatment and welfare, subject to the terms of the LPA and when it can be used.

Estate planning isn't only about deciding who receives your belongings one day. It's also about putting appropriate arrangements in place for you and your family during your lifetime.

Make September your month to get organised

We organise so many areas of our lives in September - school uniforms, clubs, calendars, appointments and finances.

So why not add “Review my Will” to the September checklist?

Whether you need to make your first Will, update an existing one, discuss protecting your family or arrange Lasting Powers of Attorney, Newlife Wills can guide you through your options in straightforward, easy-to-understand language.

🍂 New season. New routines. A good time to make sure your future plans are up to date.

Newlife Wills

Helping you protect the people and things that matter most