Skip to main content
WUHLD
← Back to articles

New Baby Legal Checklist: 12 Things UK Parents Forget

· 28 min

Note: The following scenario is fictional and used for illustration.

Emma, 28, from Leeds, welcomed her daughter Lily three weeks ago. Between sleepless nights and nappy changes, she remembered she needed to "sort out the legal stuff."

She registered Lily's birth at 5 weeks—just before the 42-day deadline. She claimed Child Benefit at 8 weeks, losing 5 weeks of backdated payments. But when a friend asked, "Who would raise Lily if something happened to both of you?" Emma froze.

She'd been so focused on immediate tasks that she'd overlooked the most important legal protection of all: appointing guardians in a will.

Research from the Money and Pensions Service shows that 56% of UK adults don't have a will, including 53% of those aged 50-64. For new parents with children under 18, this gap represents a critical risk—if both parents die without naming guardians, courts decide who raises their children.

This comprehensive checklist covers all 12 legal essentials UK parents need to complete, from registering your baby's birth to appointing guardians and claiming every benefit you're entitled to.

Table of Contents

Register Your Baby's Birth (Deadline: 42 Days)

The first and most time-sensitive legal requirement is registering your baby's birth. This isn't optional—it's a legal requirement.

You must register your baby's birth within 42 days in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or within 21 days in Scotland. Miss this deadline and you'll receive a formal letter demanding registration. If you still don't attend, you could face prosecution.

Registration is free, though you'll pay approximately £12.50 for each birth certificate copy you order. You can register at the local register office for the area where your baby was born. If you can't travel to that location, you can register at any register office in England and Wales—the information will be sent to the correct district.

Sarah, 32, from Bristol, registered her son's birth at 6 weeks. She received a formal warning letter at week 7 and had to take unpaid time off work to attend an emergency appointment. The stress was entirely avoidable.

What Happens If You're Unmarried

If you're married or in a civil partnership, either parent can register the birth alone. Both parents' details will automatically appear on the birth certificate.

If you're unmarried, the mother can register alone, and only her details will appear on the certificate. To include the father's details, both parents must attend the registration together, or one parent can bring a statutory declaration of parentage form completed by the other parent.

This matters enormously. Being named on the birth certificate is how unmarried fathers gain automatic parental responsibility—but only for babies born after 1 December 2003.

Re-Registration After Marriage

If you register your baby with only the mother's details, then later marry or enter a civil partnership, you can re-register the birth to add the father's or second parent's details. Contact your local register office for guidance.

Re-registration also grants the father automatic parental responsibility retrospectively.

What You'll Receive

After registration, you'll receive a birth certificate showing your baby's full name, date and place of birth, parents' names and occupations, and the registration date. Keep this document safe—you'll need it to apply for passports, claim benefits, and enrol your child in school.

Order at least two certified copies. One mistake many parents make is ordering only one copy, then paying rush fees years later when they need additional copies for simultaneous applications.

Understand Parental Responsibility (Especially If Unmarried)

Parental responsibility is the legal bundle of rights and duties relating to your child's upbringing. It sounds abstract, but it has profound practical consequences.

Under Section 5 of the Children Act 1989, parental responsibility means you have the right to make major decisions about your child's name, residence, education, medical treatment, and religious upbringing. Without it, you cannot legally make these decisions—even if you're the biological parent.

Birth mothers automatically have parental responsibility from the moment of birth. Married fathers and civil partners also receive automatic parental responsibility. But unmarried fathers face a different reality.

If you're an unmarried father and your child was born after 1 December 2003, you gain automatic parental responsibility by being named on the birth certificate. If your child was born before this date, or if you're not on the birth certificate, you must obtain parental responsibility through formal means.

Marcus, 34, had been with his partner for 8 years when their daughter was born. He wasn't on the birth certificate. When their daughter needed emergency medical treatment at 18 months, Marcus couldn't consent. The hospital had to wait for the mother to arrive—a terrifying delay that could have been avoided.

How Unmarried Fathers Get Parental Responsibility

If you don't have automatic parental responsibility, you can obtain it in three ways:

Joint birth registration: Attend the birth registration with the mother and ensure your name appears on the certificate. This is by far the simplest method.

Parental Responsibility Agreement: A formal written agreement between both parents, signed and witnessed, then registered with the court. Download the C(PRA1) form from GOV.UK.

Court order: Apply to the court for a Parental Responsibility Order. This is the most formal route and may be necessary if the mother refuses to consent to an agreement.

Once granted, parental responsibility cannot be removed except by court order. It continues even if you separate from your partner or lose contact with your child.

Critical distinction: Being the biological father is not the same as having parental responsibility. Biology doesn't grant legal rights—formal recognition does.

Appoint Guardians in Your Will (Most Parents Skip This)

This is the single most important legal protection you can provide for your child—and the one most parents never complete.

Research from the Money and Pensions Service shows that 56% of UK adults don't have a will. That means the majority of parents have left their children's future entirely to chance rather than choice.

Under Section 5 of the Children Act 1989, parents with parental responsibility can appoint guardians in writing to care for their children if they die. The appointment must be in writing, dated, and signed. The most reliable way to make this appointment is in a valid will that complies with Section 9 of the Wills Act 1837.

Without appointed guardians, the court decides who raises your child based on the child's best interests. This process can lead to family disputes, significant delays, and your child being placed with someone you would never have chosen.

Hannah, 29, and David, 31, both died in a car accident when their daughter was two years old. They'd talked about making a will but never got around to it. Their daughter spent 6 months in temporary foster care while Hannah's sister and David's parents fought a custody battle in court. The family relationships were permanently damaged.

The guardian appointment takes effect on the death of the last surviving parent with parental responsibility, or if a Child Arrangements Order was in force determining where the child should live.

How to Choose the Right Guardian

Choosing a guardian is deeply personal, but several practical factors should guide your decision:

Age and health: Will the guardian still be physically able to care for your child through their teenage years?

Values and lifestyle: Do they share your approach to education, discipline, religion, and general upbringing?

Location: Would your child need to move schools, leave their community, or relocate far from extended family?

Financial stability: Can they afford to raise your child? You can leave money in trust to support them, but financial responsibility is significant.

Relationship with your child: Do your children already know and trust this person?

Willingness: Have you discussed this responsibility with them and received their consent? Never surprise someone with guardianship.

Most importantly, appoint backup guardians. If your first choice is unable or unwilling to serve when the time comes, you need alternatives.

Can You Appoint Different Guardians for Different Children?

Yes, you can appoint different guardians for different children in your will. This might make sense if you have a significant age gap between children, or if one child has special needs requiring specialist care.

However, courts generally prefer to keep siblings together when possible. Unless there are compelling reasons to separate them, appointing the same guardians for all children is usually recommended.

Updating Your Guardian Appointment

Your guardian appointment isn't permanent. You can change it any time by updating your will or making a new written appointment.

Review your guardian choice every 4-5 years or after major life events—your chosen guardian might move abroad, develop health problems, or experience relationship changes that make them unsuitable.

Learn more about choosing guardians for your children and common mistakes parents make when appointing guardians.

Claim Child Benefit (Within 3 Months to Avoid Losing Money)

Child Benefit is a tax-free payment for anyone responsible for raising a child. The current rates are £25.60 per week for your first child and £16.85 per week for each additional child (from 7 April 2025).

That's £1,331.20 annually for your first child, or £876.20 for each additional child. Over 18 years, Child Benefit for one child totals over £23,900.

The critical deadline: Child Benefit can only be backdated 3 months. Apply within 3 months of your baby's birth to receive every payment you're entitled to. Wait 4 months, and you've lost a month of payments forever.

You can apply as soon as you've registered the birth. The process is straightforward—apply online via GOV.UK or use a paper CH2 form available from the Post Office.

Tom, 35, earns £65,000 annually. He assumed he wouldn't qualify for Child Benefit and didn't apply. Five years later, he discovered he should have claimed it anyway to secure National Insurance credits. He lost NI credits worth thousands of pounds toward his State Pension.

The High Income Child Benefit Charge

Here's where it gets complicated. If you or your partner earn over £60,000, you must repay the full amount of Child Benefit through the High Income Child Benefit Charge via self-assessment tax returns.

If either parent earns between £50,000 and £60,000, the benefit is gradually reduced—you repay 1% of the Child Benefit for every £100 of income over £50,000.

But here's what high earners miss: you should still claim Child Benefit even if you must repay it. Why? Because claiming Child Benefit protects your National Insurance record, which counts toward your State Pension entitlement.

You can opt out of receiving the actual payments while still registering for the NI credits. This avoids the need to repay through self-assessment while preserving your pension rights.

Child Benefit and Universal Credit

Child Benefit doesn't count as income for Universal Credit calculations, so claiming it won't reduce your UC entitlement. If you're eligible for both, claim both.

If you're uncertain about your entitlement to other benefits, use the benefits calculator on GOV.UK to check what you can claim.

Apply for Statutory Maternity/Paternity Pay (Know Your Rights)

Employed parents are entitled to statutory payments during parental leave. Understanding what you're entitled to ensures you claim everything available.

Statutory Maternity Pay

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid for up to 39 weeks:

First 6 weeks: 90% of your average gross weekly earnings with no upper limit.

Remaining 33 weeks: The lower of either £187.18 per week or 90% of your average gross weekly earnings.

To qualify for SMP, you must have worked for your employer continuously for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before your due date, and your average weekly earnings must be at least £125 (the lower earnings limit for 2025-2026).

If you don't qualify for SMP—perhaps because you're self-employed or recently changed jobs—you may be eligible for Maternity Allowance instead. This pays between £27 and £187.18 per week for 39 weeks.

Priya, a self-employed graphic designer, assumed she couldn't get maternity pay. She later discovered she qualified for Maternity Allowance worth £7,290 over 39 weeks. She applied retrospectively but could only reclaim 3 months of backdated payments—losing £4,300.

Statutory Paternity Pay

Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) entitles eligible partners to either one week or two weeks of paid leave. The rate is £187.18 per week or 90% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower.

Importantly, recent legislation is making paternity leave a "day one" right, removing the previous requirement for employment history. Check current eligibility on GOV.UK as rules are evolving.

Shared Parental Leave and Pay

If you want to share leave more flexibly between both parents, Shared Parental Leave allows you to convert maternity leave into shared leave that either parent can take. Shared Parental Pay is £187.18 per week or 90% of earnings.

This can be particularly valuable if the mother earns significantly less than her partner, as it allows the higher earner to take leave without as severe a financial impact.

Register Your Baby with a GP and Dentist

Healthcare registration isn't optional—it's essential. Babies need their first vaccinations at 8 weeks old (the 6-in-1 vaccine, rotavirus vaccine, and MenB vaccine).

Contact your local GP surgery with your baby's birth certificate. Most hospitals provide a registration pack before you leave after giving birth. If you haven't received one, contact your GP directly.

Registration is straightforward—you'll need your baby's birth certificate, proof of address, and your own NHS number.

Rachel, 26, didn't register her daughter with a GP until 10 weeks after birth. She missed the first vaccination window and had to catch up on an accelerated schedule, which meant extra appointments and unnecessary stress.

Health Visitor Support

You'll automatically be assigned a health visitor who will contact you within 10-14 days of birth. They provide support with feeding, development, and general health concerns. They'll conduct developmental reviews at specific intervals and are an invaluable resource during your baby's first years.

Dentist Registration

Start dental registration early even though your baby's first teeth haven't appeared yet. Establishing a dental care relationship early makes future appointments easier and ensures your child becomes comfortable with dental visits.

All children under 16 receive free NHS dental treatment (under 19 if in full-time education). Mothers also receive free NHS dental treatment for 12 months after giving birth.

Get a Passport for Your Baby (If You Plan to Travel)

If you plan to travel internationally—even to EU countries after Brexit—your baby needs a passport.

The cost is £61.50 for a child passport valid for 5 years (from 10 April 2025). Processing time is currently up to 10 weeks for standard applications. Never book travel until you've received the passport.

What You'll Need

To apply for your baby's first passport, you'll need:

  • Full birth certificate (showing parents' details)
  • Parents' passports
  • Two identical passport photos (specific requirements apply—check GOV.UK)
  • Proof of parental responsibility (if parents are unmarried or separated)
  • A countersignature from a professional person who's known you for at least 2 years

Both parents must consent to the passport application unless one parent has sole parental responsibility or a court order. This protects against international child abduction.

Alex and Mia booked a Spanish holiday when their baby was 4 months old. They applied for the passport at 3.5 months, assuming 10 weeks was plenty of time. Processing was delayed, the passport didn't arrive in time, and they lost £1,200 in non-refundable flights and accommodation.

Fast Track and Premium Services

If you need a passport urgently, Fast Track (1-week service) and Premium (same-day service) options are available at significantly higher cost. Fast Track costs £133 for a child passport, while Premium costs £189.

Plan ahead. Apply for your baby's passport well in advance of any planned travel.

Consider Life Insurance and Income Protection

Life insurance isn't legally required, but it's essential financial protection for families with young children.

The economic value of a stay-at-home parent is estimated at over £30,000 per year when you factor in childcare, housework, cooking, and transport. If the main earner dies, the family could struggle to pay the mortgage and living expenses.

Types of Life Insurance

Level Term Insurance: Provides a fixed payout throughout the term (for example, £300,000 for 20 years). This is ideal for covering childcare costs, living expenses, and maintaining your family's standard of living.

Decreasing Term Insurance (Mortgage Protection): The payout reduces over time, matching a repayment mortgage balance. Premiums are cheaper because the insured amount decreases.

Family Income Benefit: Instead of a lump sum, this pays an annual income to your family (for example, £20,000 per year until your child turns 18). This can be more cost-effective and prevents the risk of a lump sum being mismanaged.

Katie, 30, is a stay-at-home mum. Her partner assumed "she doesn't earn money so doesn't need life insurance." When they calculated what it would cost to replace her childcare, cooking, cleaning, and household management, they realized they'd need approximately £32,000 per year—making life insurance on Katie essential.

Writing Your Policy in Trust

This is a critical step most parents overlook. Writing your life insurance policy in trust means the payout goes directly to your nominated trustees (not your estate).

Benefits of writing in trust:

  • Avoids 40% inheritance tax on the policy payout
  • Bypasses probate (money paid within weeks, not months)
  • Keeps the payout outside your estate for benefit calculations

Most life insurance providers offer free trust services. Complete the trust deed when you take out the policy—it takes 10 minutes and could save your family tens of thousands of pounds.

Don't Assume Employer Life Insurance Is Enough

Many employers provide death-in-service benefits (typically 2-4 times your annual salary). This sounds generous until you calculate what your family actually needs.

If you earn £35,000, death-in-service might pay £70,000-£140,000. That's not enough to pay off a £250,000 mortgage and support your family for 18 years.

Also, employer cover ends if you leave your job, and it's often not written in trust, meaning it forms part of your taxable estate.

Learn more about protecting your family financially and estate planning essentials.

Update Your Will to Include Your Baby

If you made a will before your baby was born, you must update it now. Wills written before children are born may not automatically include them, depending on the wording.

The risk is partial intestacy—your child could be excluded from inheritance if your will says "to my children" but was written when you had none.

What to Update

Guardian appointments: If you already have children with different guardians appointed, decide whether the new baby should have the same guardians or different ones (courts prefer keeping siblings together).

Financial provisions: With an additional child, your estate needs to support another person through childhood and potentially university.

Executors: You may want to add or change executors, particularly if circumstances have changed since you made your original will.

Oliver and Charlotte made wills in 2018 leaving everything "to each other, then to our children." They had their first child in 2020 and their second in 2023. They never updated their wills and forgot to appoint guardians for either child. If they both died tomorrow, the court would decide their children's future.

Life Events Requiring Will Updates

Beyond having a new baby, these events should trigger a will review:

  • Marriage or divorce (marriage automatically revokes a will in England and Wales)
  • Moving house (particularly if moving countries)
  • Having additional children
  • Significant wealth changes (inheritance, property value increases, business success)
  • Changes in family relationships (falling out with appointed guardians or executors)

Parents with children under 18 should review their wills every 4-5 years at minimum. If it's been longer than that, your will is almost certainly out of date.

Discover how to update your will after having a baby and what happens if you die without a will.

Understand Inheritance Tax and Estate Planning (Even If You Think You're Not Rich)

Many new parents become liable for inheritance tax (IHT) without realizing it. When you combine property values, life insurance, and pensions, middle-income families often exceed IHT thresholds.

The current thresholds are:

Married couples and civil partners can combine their allowances, creating a £1 million threshold if both leave the family home to children or grandchildren.

However, the residence nil-rate band tapers for high-value estates—it reduces by £1 for every £2 that the estate exceeds £2 million.

Why New Parents Often Exceed the Threshold

Daniel and Sophie bought a house in Cambridge for £280,000 in 2018. It's now worth £420,000. They each have £250,000 life insurance policies and £80,000 in combined pensions. Their estate totals £770,000.

If Daniel dies first, everything passes to Sophie tax-free under spousal exemption. But when Sophie later dies, the estate is £270,000 over the combined £500,000 threshold (assuming she's single and the children inherit directly).

At 40% IHT, their children would pay £108,000 in tax—unless they implement proper estate planning.

Estate Planning for New Parents

Write life insurance in trust: This keeps the policy payout outside your estate, avoiding 40% tax on the insurance amount.

Pension death benefit nominations: Pensions don't usually form part of your estate, but you must complete a nomination form telling the pension provider who should receive death benefits.

Use spousal exemption efficiently: Ensure your will leaves everything to your spouse first (tax-free), and that your spouse's will then uses both combined allowances when leaving assets to children.

Consider lifetime gifts: You can give away £3,000 per year tax-free. Larger gifts become exempt if you survive 7 years after making them.

Learn more about inheritance tax planning for parents and protecting your child's inheritance.

Register for Council Tax Discount or Exemption (If Applicable)

Council tax discounts are a smaller financial benefit, but they're easy to claim if you're eligible.

The Single Person Discount provides a 25% reduction if only one adult lives in the property. This applies if one partner moves out, or if your partner is a full-time student or severely mentally impaired.

When New Parents Might Qualify

If one parent is a full-time student, severely disabled, or a live-in caregiver, you may qualify for reductions or exemptions.

Being on maternity leave doesn't exempt you from council tax—this is a common misconception. Maternity leave is still considered employment for council tax purposes.

Bethany, 24, is a single mum. She didn't realize she qualified for the 25% single person discount. She overpaid £340 per year for 3 years before discovering the discount—£1,020 she could have saved.

Contact your local council with evidence of your circumstances to apply for discounts or exemptions. If you've been eligible but not claiming, you may be able to reclaim overpayments for previous years.

Create or Update Your Parenting Agreement (If You're Not Married)

Unmarried parents have no automatic legal protections if they separate—unlike married couples or civil partners. A parenting agreement formalizes your arrangements in case the relationship ends.

What a Parenting Agreement Covers

A parenting agreement isn't legally binding like a court order, but it's valuable evidence if a dispute goes to court. It typically covers:

Financial contributions: Who pays for childcare, housing, education, and other expenses.

Property ownership: Who owns the family home, particularly if only one name is on the mortgage or title deeds.

Arrangements if you separate: Where the child will live, contact arrangements, how decisions will be made.

Lauren and Jake had been together for 6 years when they had their baby. They bought a house, but only Jake's name was on the mortgage because Lauren was on maternity leave with a lower income.

Two years later, they split. Lauren had no legal claim to the property despite contributing to bills and providing childcare. She had to move out with their daughter, losing the financial security she'd helped build.

Cohabitation Agreements

For unmarried couples, cohabitation agreements formalize property and financial arrangements. These can include provisions for what happens to the home, savings, and other assets if you separate or one partner dies.

If significant assets are involved, complex property ownership exists, or one partner is giving up work to care for children, seek legal advice. A solicitor can draft a formal cohabitation agreement that reflects your intentions and protects both partners.

Child Arrangements Orders

Don't confuse parenting agreements with Child Arrangements Orders. Child Arrangements Orders are formal court orders determining where children live and contact arrangements with each parent. These are only needed if parents can't agree informally.

Most separating parents manage to agree on arrangements without court involvement. If you can't agree, mediation is usually required before applying for a court order.

Explore more about unmarried couples and wills and protecting your rights as an unmarried parent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What legal documents do I need when I have a baby in the UK?

A: When you have a baby in the UK, you need to obtain a birth certificate (by registering within 42 days in England/Wales), apply for a National Insurance number (automatically issued), consider creating a will to appoint guardians, and may need a passport if travelling abroad. You should also register your baby with a GP and claim Child Benefit within 3 months to avoid losing entitlement.

Q: How long do I have to register my baby's birth in the UK?

A: You must register your baby's birth within 42 days in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or within 21 days in Scotland. If you don't register within this timeframe, you may receive a formal letter and could face prosecution. Contact your local register office if you need an extension for legitimate reasons.

Q: Do unmarried fathers automatically get parental responsibility in the UK?

A: Unmarried fathers only get automatic parental responsibility if they register the birth jointly with the mother and the baby was born after 1 December 2003. If born before this date, or if the father didn't register the birth, he must obtain parental responsibility through a formal agreement with the mother or a court order.

Q: What happens to my child if both parents die without a will?

A: If both parents die without appointing guardians in a valid will, the court will decide who raises your child based on the child's best interests. This can lead to family disputes, delays, and your child potentially being placed with someone you wouldn't have chosen. Naming guardians in your will ensures your wishes are legally binding.

Q: Can I appoint different guardians for different children?

A: Yes, you can appoint different guardians for different children in your will, though this is generally discouraged unless there are compelling reasons (such as significant age gaps or special needs). Courts prefer to keep siblings together when possible, so appointing the same guardians for all children is usually recommended.

Q: How much is Child Benefit in the UK in 2025?

A: Child Benefit from 7 April 2025 is £25.60 per week for your first child and £16.85 per week for each additional child. However, if you or your partner earn over £60,000, you must repay all of it through the High Income Child Benefit Charge. Between £50,000-£60,000, the benefit is gradually reduced.

Q: Do I need life insurance when I have a baby?

A: While not legally required, life insurance is strongly recommended for new parents to protect your child's financial future if you die. Consider level term insurance to provide a lump sum for childcare and living expenses, or decreasing term insurance to cover your mortgage. Writing the policy in trust avoids inheritance tax and speeds up payout to your family.

Q: What is parental responsibility and why does it matter?

A: Parental responsibility is the legal bundle of rights and duties relating to your child's upbringing. It means you have the right to make major decisions about your child's name, residence, education, medical treatment, and religious upbringing. Without parental responsibility, you cannot legally make these decisions, even if you're the biological parent.

Q: How do I prove I'm the parent if I'm not married?

A: If you're an unmarried mother, you automatically have parental responsibility from birth. If you're an unmarried father, the strongest proof is being named on the birth certificate (for births after 1 December 2003), which also grants parental responsibility. Alternatively, you can obtain a Parental Responsibility Agreement signed by both parents or apply for a court order.

Q: What benefits can I claim when I have a new baby in the UK?

A: New parents in the UK can claim Child Benefit (£25.60/week for first child from April 2025), Statutory Maternity/Paternity Pay (£187.18/week or 90% of earnings), Universal Credit (if eligible based on income), and free NHS prescriptions during pregnancy and for 12 months after birth. Apply for Child Benefit within 3 months of birth to avoid losing backdated payments.

Conclusion

Becoming a parent transforms your legal responsibilities overnight. This checklist ensures you've completed every essential task to protect your child and your family.

Key takeaways:

  • Complete time-sensitive tasks first: register your baby's birth within 42 days and claim Child Benefit within 3 months to avoid losing money.
  • Don't skip guardian appointment: 56% of UK parents have no will—if both parents die, courts decide who raises your child.
  • Understand parental responsibility: unmarried fathers must actively secure it through birth registration or formal agreement.
  • Protect your family financially: life insurance, wills, and inheritance tax planning aren't just for wealthy families—average property values plus life insurance often exceed £500,000 thresholds.
  • Keep documents updated: review your will every 4-5 years or after major life events like having additional children, moving house, or getting married.

Becoming a parent transforms everything—including your legal responsibilities. While birth registration and benefit claims have hard deadlines, the most important protection (appointing guardians in your will) has no deadline at all.

That's precisely why so many parents never get around to it, leaving their children's future to chance rather than choice.

Legal Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. WUHLD is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Laws and guidance change and their application depends on your circumstances. For advice about your situation, consult a qualified solicitor or regulated professional. Unless stated otherwise, information relates to England and Wales.

Need Help with Your Will?

Completing this legal checklist protects your child in multiple ways, but the single most important item is appointing guardians in a valid will. Without this, courts decide who raises your child if both parents die—regardless of your wishes or family relationships.

Create your will with confidence using WUHLD's guided platform. For just £99.99, you'll get your complete will (legally binding when properly executed and witnessed) plus three expert guides. Preview your will free before paying anything—no credit card required.

Legal Disclaimer:

This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. WUHLD is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Laws and guidance change and their application depends on your circumstances. For advice about your situation, consult a qualified solicitor or regulated professional. Unless stated otherwise, information relates to England and Wales.

Sources: