Should i make a will for my daughter?

[boona]

I am 40 yrs and have a young child, her father was killed when she was a baby. I have been worrying lately about who would look after her if I died before my child reaches adulthood. I do not have any family members whom I would want to take on this role, neither any close friends whom to ask. I have thought about adoption, is this something I can request in a will?

[DTCwordfan]

any godparents.....I would place her with someone you know before adoption and yes, it can be outlined in a will.

[boona]

No godparents.

[sherrardk]

There are thousands of children in care and adoption rates are falling, in addition children wait an average of two years and seven months to be adopted - http://news.sky.com/h...ews/article/16079344.

I know you aren't keen on your sister but wouldn't she be a better option?

[bednobs]

you can't "will" a person

[boona]

I didn't realise it would take so long to be adopted. I only want the best for my girl, the thought of her being brought up by my sister worries me sherrard.

[sherrardk]

We're in the same position - no one would be able to take on all of our children. (Ps - of course you want the best for her, I ws always worried that if something happened to us my mother would 'get' the children, that would have been awful.) Hope you manage to work something out so you rest easy.

[boxtops]

You might be able to put something in writing that you DON'T want your sister to have custody.... you need a Will anyway if you haven't got one, you need to be sure that your estate will go direct to her if anything happens to you. Go see a friendly solicitor and ask their advice.

[boona]

This is the problem sherrard, I would want my daughter to be loved as I love her, that's why I thought of adoption as I believe these parents would love her as there own.

[boona]

Hi Boxtops, I do need to make a will and I believe I should set up some type of life assurance too, just in case.

[DTCwordfan]

Adviseable to do that at the very least..... also a lawyer may advise on protection for your daughter at different ages.

[boona]

Where would I go for life assurance advise? Would that be a solicitor too? My bank offered this to me but they were very pushy and I didn't understand it all.

[boxtops]

You can go to an insurance broker, you can google - some of these insurance comparison sites can be very useful, but to be honest sometimes the banks have very good deals. Just don't let them pressure you, take time to make up your mind.

[boona]

Thanks again boxtops, I have just been googling about life assurance and I have been reading the small print, most of it seems straightforward.