<p>As a parent, how many times have you read <strong>ATTENTION: To the Parent or Guardian of</strong> …..  on documents that have been addressed to you? Whenever I receive such a letter it always makes me recall my own school days when every letter I took home for Mum and Dad was addressed in this way.</p> <p>If you are a parent then I’m sure you will also be regularly receiving letters addressed in such a way – whether they are from the school, the doctors, the swimming club etc., etc. But have you ever stopped to think about the implications of this a little deeper – what is it implying? Well, just think for a moment, if you were unfortunate enough to be the victim(s) of a fatal road or industrial accident, <strong>who would be the guardian(s) of your children?</strong></p> <p>From a less dramatic and more comfortable stand point. If the need arose to leave your children in somebody else’s care for just a few days or possibly a week or two, <strong>who would you trust and would they be able to cope?</strong> Of course you would also need to consider if they could afford to look after them for this period or if you might need to contribute at least something? In such a situation, we can often make plans easily to cover an emergency by getting things ready, leaving helpful notes, phoning home regularly to check all is well and so on.</p> <p>However, if we step back into the less comfortable zone for just a moment and consider - what if you were not given the opportunity to plan? Who would then look after them if you never made it home from the office, the shops, etc.? Who would know their needs or take them to school, birthday parties, etc.?</p> <p>Of course, if tragedy did strike, your children and other close members of the family will struggle to come to terms with the loss of a loved one. This ‘coming to terms with’ is often the very reason that we tend not to ever talk about such a possibility. Consequently and unfortunately, this is also the reason that <strong>many of us do not make the necessary plans</strong> for such an awful event.</p> <p>However, we all know that it does happen because we read about it in the news paper or experience it with others. It is a fact, we are not immortal, and as a parent <strong>we really do owe it to our children to appoint responsible and caring guardians</strong> (just in case). A domestic parallel here might be that you hope that your house won’t collapse or burn down but you still take out insurance (just in case).</p> <p>The easiest way to appoint guardians and protect your children is to make a Will. Making a Will and appointing testamentary guardian(s) in the Will should be on every parent’s essential ‘to-do list’. If, having taken the time to read this article, you agree that ensuring the continuing care of your children is important to you then making a Will is essential for you and your family. It’s easy to put it off until tomorrow but don’t – <strong>simply pick up the telephone now and give me a call – Rob Abell at Will Planning Solutions on 01455 246 677</strong> or <a title="Email Rob Abell now" href="mailto:rob.abell@willplanningsolutions.co.uk" target="_blank"><strong>email me</strong></a>.  Let me provide you with some free advice and guidance on how best to go about it and all in the comfort of your own home.  As a caring parent myself I would be delighted to help you with this because I know just how important it is.</p> <p><strong>Will Planning Solutions Ltd</strong> are a member of the Institute of Professional Willwriters (OFT Approved) and fully compliant with their practices. We pride ourselves in explaining things to you in plain English and in a way that you will be comfortable with. If you would like to find out more then please <a title="Visit the Will Planning Solutions feature on the bestof Hinckley" href="http://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/hinckley/business-guide/feature/will-planning-solutions/76646" target="_blank"><span style="COLOR: #ff6600"><strong>CLICK here to visit our feature</strong></span></a> on the bestofhinckley.</p>/da907a16-ee7b-4054-b00e-5bd0730c18b0.jpg/93561bbb-43f9-4683-bfc0-7c0813f09ab3.jpg