Things to think about when preparing for a baby (other than which pram is the cutest)

But even though it’s not the MOST important thing to think about.. teeny tiny baby clothes are pretty fun to think about!

There is lots to think about when it comes to starting a family and some of it’s fun (outfit shopping, nursery decorating, name fantasising) but there are also some bland bits that are less cute but just as essential. 

What do we mean? Well things like making sure your home is ‘baby-proofed’ (aka sharp corners covered, heavy items like mirrors mounted safely to the wall, electrical sockets covered etc) and safety checked for any potential hazards you may never have noticed.

You may also want to update your insurances. If it’s your first child having life or income protection insurance may be more important to you now that you have a dependant, and if you have private health cover it’s a good time to review what you currently are and are not covered for, in case you need to make any changes.

And of course you KNOW we wouldn’t skip out on reminding you to refresh your budget to make sure you’ll be okay financially with a new bubba in the world.

All these things are aimed at making sure that you’re as prepared as possible for when your new family member arrives, but of the most important things many of us forget is to update our will in line with our current life stage.

But why is it important to update our wills? And what even is a will?

A will is the legal document that ensures all of your money and assets are directed where you want them to go in the event of your passing. It clearly outlines who is to receive what and it’s not just limited to the money you have in the bank account. Your pets, your tech, your jewels, your property - even your Facebook password - are all things that you can specify in your will.

Setting up a will makes for a much easier process in the event of your death (a very traumatic time for those close to you) as assets are divided up without confusion. If you don’t have a will, then the process is far more arduous for your loved ones.

It’s important to update your will if you’re starting a family because in the event that you and your partner both pass away suddenly, your executor needs to know who you have chosen to look after your child, otherwise it will be left for a court to decide and that decision may not reflect your wishes. You will also need to change it to reflect that your estate will go to them in the event of your passing, assuming that is what you’d like to do.

The other thing you need to think about when updating your will is who you would like to be the executor of you will; that is, the person who will make sure your estate is distributed in line with what is written in your will.

If you’re looking to update your will, then why not do it from the comfort of your home by using State Trustees’ fantastic Online Will service? The Online Will can be done by anyone Australia wide, takes as little as 30 minutes to complete and costs just $120. Plus, until July 31, their Online Wills are 30% off, taking the cost down to $84.00

Of course, if your situation is more complex and you’d prefer to speak with a Will Writer, then the team at State Trustees can also organise that for you.