After having children of her own, estate planning consultant Megan Dugdale realised the importance of planning for her family’s future, while gaining first-hand insight into why many parents never get the opportunity to have those important conversations. She spoke to Today’s Wills and Probate about the launch of her new initiative Play & Plan, which she hopes will make estate planning more accessible to families.
Ever since starting her career in estate planning, Megan has been passionate about making the subject “easier to understand” for families by using her social media platforms to provide education and support people in making informed decisions about their wills.
Through her consulting work at W&P Legal, she has witnessed some of the “practical barriers” that prevent people from prioritising legal affairs, she explained, highlighting a huge factor for parents being a lack of time with busy schedules and working around children.
This is where the idea for Play & Plan formed.
Megan said: “I have always been passionate about making what can feel like a complicated or daunting area of law easier to understand and more approachable, particularly for families. That is a big part of what inspired me to create Play & Plan.
“When I started working in and learning about estate planning, I was genuinely shocked that these conversations weren’t happening more. I kept wondering: why isn’t this more of a thing?
“Parents often know they should have a will, powers of attorney and appropriate arrangements in place for their children, but life with young children is incredibly busy. These important conversations can so easily fall down the priority list.
“I started thinking about what I would need myself when juggling life admin, the kids and everything in between.
“I wanted to create a different kind of environment; somewhere parents could bring their children, let them play and enjoy themselves, while also having the opportunity to talk about planning for their family’s future. A play café or soft play seemed like the perfect fit.”
The consultant hosts monthly free Play & Plan sessions and welcomes parents to come along with their children to access free professional advice on estate planning while their children are able to play and have fun.
Advice can range from wills, guardianship, powers of attorney, trusts and more.
“My role is to provide the information, explain the options, and help parents understand the implications of the choices available to them,” Megan explained. “It is then their decision what they want to put in place, with my support.”
As well as accessing free advice at the events, she noted there is something “powerful” about having those important conversations with other parents.
“Estate planning can involve difficult subjects, and I think being able to sit down with someone who understands the realities of family life, explains things without unnecessary legal jargon and breaks everything down into manageable steps can make the whole process feel much more reassuring.”
Parents can also book separate appointments outside of the events for a one-to-one consultation.
Addressing what barriers prevent parents from putting plans in place, Megan identified the misconception that writing a will or organising a power of attorney is something that can be done in “in later life”, as well as the emotional barrier which stops parents wanting to have “uncomfortable” conversations about who would take care of their children if they died.
Along with this, her role as a consultant has emphasised how legal jargon can “make people feel that estate planning is something they won’t understand”.
“That’s why I think the way we have these conversations matters,” she noted.
“Being able to speak to someone who can strip away the jargon, explain things simply and approach the subject as a mum as well as a professional can make the whole process feel much more reassuring.
“Play & Plan is about breaking down those barriers and giving parents a relaxed opportunity to ask questions, understand their options and take that first step, without feeling intimidated or pressured.”
Identifying the importance of parents having conversations around estate planning, Megan emphasised how having a formal record of guardianship not only provides reassurance but also helps to “reduce uncertainty and the risk of lengthy legal processes or social services needing to become involved in determining arrangements for the children”.
She added: “Nobody wants to imagine something happening to them, particularly when they have young children, but having a plan in place means you have taken steps to protect your family and make things a little easier for them if the unexpected does happen.
“Ultimately, estate planning for young families is about putting a plan in place for the people you love most.”
Upcoming events are advertised on Megan’s social media @the_estateplanningmum, or parents can contact her directly by email on megan.dugdale@wplegal.co.uk to enquire about upcoming sessions and appointments.
