Protecting children is part and parcel of the brand ethos behind British Baby Box and we like to work with other businesses that champion the same idea. Here, in a special guest blog lawyer Laura Harrington-Rutterford from Attwells Solicitors, a mother-of-two and a fan of our products, talks through another way you can keep your babies safe.
The whole concept of the Baby Box is to shield and shelter a newborn, keeping them safe while they sleep.
It’s a product I first came across when I had my second son five months ago and I was immediately struck by how ingenious the concept was.
It proves that simple and straightforward inventions can have a big impact.
The wheel. The fork. The umbrella. The Baby Box. The Will.
And yet the latter, the most simple and straightforward of documents and one which protects your nearest and dearest, is so often overlooked – even by parents.
In fact, a recent survey for the national will-writing charity drive Will Aid revealed that more than one half of the UK adult population haven’t written a will and this includes more than half of parents (53%) with dependent children (under the age of 18).
What does this mean?
A Will tells your loved ones who should have your money, property and possessions when you die and who will be in charge of following your instructions – your executor.
Without this information, the law decides how your estate is passed on – and this may not be in line with your wishes.
But for parents this document is particularly important.
For them, their priceless asset isn’t a mansion, a diamond ring or a stock portfolio. It’s their child.
And if you die without a Will you are effectively leaving your kids without guardianship.
What’s guardianship?
A guardian is someone you have named in your Will as the person you would like to be responsible for your children if they are orphaned before reaching the age of 18.
If you die without appointing a guardian, and there is no other parent with parental responsibility, the court will decide who is appointed to look after your child.
In some cases, this can be a person neither related or known to the child.
Preparing a correctly worded will with a solicitor is the only way to prevent this potentially distressing situation from occurring and yet so many parents are finding reasons not to get this important piece of paperwork done.
What’s stopping you?
When you have a child, you should always add a Will onto the long shopping list of baby-related items.
Pram, tick. Car seat, tick. British Baby Box, tick. Will, tick.
Don’t assume your children will automatically end up being cared for by grandparents, aunts, uncles or close friends.
And don’t be put off by cost either.
There’s a misguided perception that Wills can set you back thousands but they can be as little as £300 + VAT per couple.
This is nothing compared with the potential price of failing to make a Will – court proceedings, the chance element of who might be given the keys to your child’s future, and a vulnerable little person in turmoil.
Safety first
I imagine that, like me, you are visiting the British Baby Box website because baby safety is important to you.
So please remember that keeping your baby safe is also about preparing for the worst.
And a Will is the best way to do this.
We are offering customers of British Baby Box a special discount of £50 + VAT off our will-writing service at Attwells.
Book an appointment with our private client department and quote the reference BritishBabyBox
If you would like more information on us or our services visit www.attwells.com
