Healys’ solicitors in Brighton and London are concerned to read findings that the prospect of a child’s divorce may stop a parent from making a will.
Financial firm Rensburg Sheppards polled 2,005 people in January this year and found that 27 per cent were not confident that their children’s marriages would remain intact.
As a consequence, one in three respondents said they were reluctant to bequeath an inheritance because the prospect of their child’s spouse ending up with a share of the parents’ accumulated wealth was something they weren’t prepared to let happen.
It also appears that the older, and perhaps wiser generation, is seeing the shrewd financial benefits of marital property agreements with 72 per cent saying they would like to see pre-nuptial agreements become enforceable in English and Welsh family law.
A senior financial planner at Rensburg Sheppards, said, “Given the UK’s high divorce rate, it’s perhaps understandable that many parents are pessimistic over their own kids’ marriages. Such fears may mean some families are reluctant to get involved in inheritance planning or gifting assets to their children.”
While some young couples may still feel the drawing up of a pre-nup is cold-hearted and pessimistic, a parent’s concern over inheritances is perhaps, in many cases, valid. The contents of an authoritatively conceived pre-nuptial agreement can help to alleviate fears of assets and heirlooms leaving the family line and should be seen as sensible financial planning by all concerned.
To discuss how a financial settlement could be affected by the lack of a pre- or post-nuptial agreement Healys’ divorce solicitors in Brighton can be contacted by calling <b>01273 685 888</b>. In London our family law legal practitioners can be contacted on <b>020 7822 4000</b>.
