Why It's Important to Draft a Will After Having Children

No parents want to think about their own death. However, it is something you need to keep in mind when you're a parent. The best way to prepare for your passing is by drafting a will. Whether your children are young or adults when you go, a will allows you to make your wishes for them known. Here are some reasons why it is important to draft a will after having children.

Establish Custody

If something happens to you, your children will still need somebody to raise them. If you don't establish custody in your will, your child's future is not secure, so take the time to establish custody. Find out who will take them, whether it is family or someone else you trust, and then make it official. That way, if you unexpectedly pass, your children don't risk going into state custody instead of going to the person you want them to go to.

Peace of Mind

There are a lot of things to consider when it comes to managing your affairs after passing. You don't want to leave your spouse or young children at the hands of the court by not leaving a will. So rather than continuing to put off drafting your will, get it done as soon as you can. Make all the arrangements now, when you have time to really consider everything carefully. Then, you won't need to worry about either needing it unexpectedly or finally finding the time to get it done sometime in the future. Instead, you can enjoy your time with your family.

Get Everything In Order

Your will encompasses all of your requests. This means you need to think about a lot of different factors in your life, including children, money, and many other things. It can take some time to go through all of these things and make your plans. But if you don't have a will, then your loved ones might not be clear about what you want after your death. Since 60% of people don't have a will, there are a lot of families trying to figure those things out. Get all of your wishes and needs in order now and then make it official with a will. You can go back and edit things in your will later if you need to, but you won't need to go through the entire process again.

Save Your Loved Ones Some Stress

Your family will be going through a rough time when you pass. While you can't prevent that, you can ease their stress with your will. Make it clear who is going to receive what. If there are certain charities that you want to support, provide them with all the information they need in order to do that. At the very least, you can save them some family squabbling since it'll be clear where your property is going. By laying out clear instructions in your will, your children will have one less thing to deal with.

Plan Your Farewell

Your family might not know exactly what you want to be done after you pass. Your will can give them the information they need to know in order to give you a good sendoff. As you work on your will, consider what you want for your funeral. Do you want to be buried or cremated? What kind of service do you want? By providing this information in your will, you're much more likely to get it.

Drafting a will is important for everybody, but especially for those with children to consider. If you haven't written your will yet, these are just some of the reasons why it is so important to do so.

Guest author Riley is a reader and writer who loves baking, crafting, and getting her steps in by walking outdoors.