Planning your Will may be the last thing on your mind as you’re packing your beachwear and sun cream, but accidents and injuries happen when we least expect them. Of course, the chances of dying or sustaining a severe injury on holiday are slim, but if you have a Will in place it’s one less thing to worry about as you head off for your break…
The risks vary depending on where you’re travelling to. According to the latest information from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) there were just over 3,600 reported deaths of British nationals abroad in the year 2014/2015. Spain, Thailand and France recorded the highest number of fatalities. The FCO also recorded over 3,300 reported hospitalisations where the foreign office gave assistance, the actual total hospitalisations being substantially higher.
If you’re travelling abroad, it’s not particularly likely that you will be struck down by an infectious disease. The greatest risk for most travelers according to the World Health Organisation is road traffic accidents – especially when travelling to a lower income country, where typically road laws are somewhat more relaxed. Add to that, that you may be driving a vehicle you are unused to, the steering wheel may be in a different place and you are adapting to driving on the ‘other’ side of the road, and the road signs are in a different language…
The other high risks are associated with violence and water activities. According to the Swimming Teachers’ Association, a Briton is 5½ times more likely to drown abroad than in the UK. In the decade up to 2010, 784 Britons drowned abroad, the majority of whom were adults.
If you are about to go on holiday, one of the points on your checklist should be to ensure you have a valid Will & Powers of Attorney in place, as well as sufficient travel insurance. Getting at least a Standard Will drafted and signed before you go away is substantially better than nothing, and can be put in place very quickly. You can then always update it on your return to something more robust – providing all goes well on your holiday…!
Holidays are a time to relax and spend time with the people you love. Setting up things such as Wills, Powers of Attorney and travel insurance means you can sit back and enjoy yourself in the knowledge that if something does go wrong, your family will be taken care of.
Heir Tight Wills helps clients put in place robust provisions and valid documents, to protect their loved ones and their assets both during their lifetime and after their death. For a FREE Consultation to discuss writing or updating your Will & estate planning provisions, contact Rachael Rodgers on 0845 519 7585, or CONTACT US via email.
