A young family with property and no joined-up plan.

The problem

A couple in their early thirties purchased a family home and welcomed their second child. Both had busy professional careers, substantial mortgage debt, and basic life cover provided through employment, but no wills, no named guardians, and no powers of attorney in place.

What was identified

• Problem: If either parent died or lost capacity, statutory intestacy rules would decide asset distribution without protecting the survivor, and courts would appoint guardians.
• What We Identified: Employer "death-in-service" benefit was tied strictly to current employment and written without trust nomination, threatening delays and potential tax drag.
• What Was Considered: Lasting Powers of Attorney for both financial and health decisions, mirror wills with testamentary guardianship trusts, and independent life assurance written in trust.
• What Changed: Guardianship legally secured; trust provisions ensure children are provided for at milestones; life cover guarantees mortgage clearance without probate delays.

What was considered

We conducted a whole-picture review coordinating their family protection, mortgage liabilities and estate planning. Rather than buying separate off-the-shelf documents, their arrangements were designed to work together seamlessly.

What changed

The parents gained complete clarity on how their children and family home would be protected under any circumstance, with all legal and financial pieces harmonised.