International Day of Happiness is a day whereby individuals are encouraged to recognise the things in life that bring them happiness. Although this may be measured through money and success, we should also acknowledge that things such as strong relationships, health and kindness are just as important. International Day of Happiness involves promoting wellbeing, security and reducing anxiety so that we can then truly feel joy.
Legal planning is an often overlooked but extremely powerful route to long term peace of mind for individuals and their families. Planning ahead allows you to feel comfort in knowing what will happen in certain situations and gives you an element of control which you may not have otherwise.
For example, if you were to get into an unexpected accident and unfortunately lost mental capacity as a result, if you do not have Lasting Powers of Attorney in place, no one is able to legally deal with your affairs on your behalf. Although there is a Court of Protection route that can be followed, planning ahead and creating LPAs would save on costs and time and would reduce the ‘mental load’ on family members during an already stressful and emotional time. You are able to decide ahead of time who you trust to deal with your affairs which not only provides you with reassurance, but the people you appoint would also take comfort in knowing they are able to help should you need it. Other examples of legal planning which provide peace of mind include:
- Writing a Will– If a person dies without leaving a Will, their estate will pass in accordance with the government Intestacy Rules which may not follow their wishes and could leave important people unprovided for. Making a Will is therefore important as it allows you to ensure that your loved ones are provided for and that your wishes are legally recognised and respected- providing you with clarity and reassurance about the future so that you can live a fulfilling and meaningful life without unnecessary worry.
- Guardianship in Wills– For parents with children under 18, it is important to include a guardianship clause in your Will as it is a way of ensuring that your children will be cared for by people of your choosing should anything happen to you whilst they are still young. This provides clear guidance as to who you believe is best placed to look after your children and gives you the control over this rather than leaving it to the courts. Ultimately, you can be confident that even in the most challenging times, your children would be support by people that you trust.
Therefore, in order to truly experience happiness, it is important we remove sources of worry and plan ahead for different life events so that you are prepared for difficult situations should they arise. Taking control through legal planning can act as a form of self-care as it allows you to feel relaxed, stable, and empowered knowing that you can enjoy life without the worry of ‘what if’.
You deserve to have peace of mind and your family deserve clarity, not burden!
Planning you and your family’s future is simpler than you may think with our professionals here to guide you every step of the way. This International Day of Happiness, take one small step towards peace of mind.