Most couples when considering their Wills believe the best and simplest way to do things is to say “I leave everything to my spouse and if my spouse predeceases me, I leave everything to our children” Sounds simple doesn’t it? That’s because it is simple and therefore the reality is most likely to be nothing like you intended.

Firstly, if you leave everything to your spouse, that is exactly what you are doing, you cannot then dictate that it will then go to the children. In other words, if you leave everything to your spouse you cannot ensure that your children will get anything!

If you die and your spouse then needs residential care, the family home may have to be sold to fund this care. Therefore the children would end up without their inheritence, not much reward for a lifetimes work. We have all heard or know of families who have had to sell their or their parents home to pay for Long Term Care.