e available to you, either from personal resources or your employer/s, to sustain your income in the event of long term incapacity.

Protecting your income is about protecting your lifestyle.

Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance can provide useful short-term cover for up to two years in assisting with the monthly payments on your mortgage in the event of accident, sickness or unemployment.

Income Protection Insurance can provide a replacement income if illness or injury means you are unable to work and your income stops. It pays a regular monthly benefit for a specific term , until you are fit enough to return to work.

Some points to remember….

• Plan and prepare for the unexpected.

• Full, impartial and professional legal and financial advice should be sought.

• Give careful consideration to making or reviewing your will.

• Consider - is life assurance, income p

We insure our cars, houses and home contents without even thinking about it. Why should the protection of our lives, our income, lifestyle, and the needs of loved ones be any less important?

With the arrival of Civil Partnerships it is a good opportunity to review financial arrangements in respect of protecting our lifestyles. This is especially important when we have a partner or dependants. Each of us is unique and the financial protection needs we have will differ. It is important to seek full and impartial legal and financial advice should there be any doubt that these issues have not been properly addressed.

Pre- Civil Partnership Agreements

People may be concerned about entering a civil partnership without some formal agreement in place. A Pre-Civil Partnership Agreement although not legally binding, can be used for guidance as to the expectations of the parties concerned. Agreements can also be drawn up for same sex couples (Declarations Of Trust) who choose not to have a civil partnership, but feel that things need to be formalised to avoid future misunderstandings.

It is important that legal advice is sought by both sides, and agreements updated whenever there is a significant change, e.g. having children.

Writing a will

Making a will does not need to be complicated. Most wills are straightforward, inexpensive, and require very little time to process. Once completed, they provide reassurance that your estate will be handled in accordance with your wishes.

For people entering into a civil partnership, existing wills are deemed invalid and need to be amended to take account of the civil partnership. Equally important is the recognition under the new will of any existing provisions which require amending.

Writing a will is as important for those not in a civil partnership. Where there is no will, there is little legal protection for a surviving partner. There have been many situations where a grieving partner’s wishes have been ignored by the deceased’s family, causing concern and distress. Making a will can avoid this.

There are solicitors who offer cost effective services for Pre-Civil Partnership Agreements and will writing.

Life Assurance & Critical Illness Cover

Whether you are single, in a relationship or have dependants, it is important to consider the financial consequences of your death or illness. A life assurance policy can provide cost effective cover in the event of death, in the form of a lump sum or income.

No one likes to think they will experience a critical illness, but in reality it could happen to anyone of us, at any age and at any time. Statistically, we are three times more likely to suffer a critical illness before the age of 60 than we are to die before that age.* Have you considered how you would cope financially should you or your partner be diagnosed with a critical illness?

On a successful claim, a Critical Illness Policy would provide a lump sum payment to help support you and your dependants.

The good news is that Life Assurance Companies no longer treat gay or bisexual men differently on the basis of sexuality, in underwriting their life assurance application.

You may have existing insurance policies; it is always useful to review them to ensure they are cost effective and provide adequate cover.

Income Protection Cover

According to government statistics, 7% of the working population are unable to work due to incapacity. Many of these people have been unable to work as a result of their condition for longer then two years.**

Consider what provisions are available to you, either from personal resources or your employer/s, to sustain your income in the event of long term incapacity.

Protecting your income is about protecting your lifestyle.

Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance can provide useful short-term cover for up to two years in assisting with the monthly payments on your mortgage in the event of accident, sickness or unemployment.

Income Protection Insurance can provide a replacement income if illness or injury means you are unable to work and your income stops. It pays a regular monthly benefit for a specific term , until you are fit enough to return to work.

Some points to remember….

• Plan and prepare for the unexpected.

• Full, impartial and professional legal and financial advice should be sought.

• Give careful consideration to making or reviewing your will.

• Consider - is life assurance, income pr

ments can also be drawn up for same sex couples (Declarations Of Trust) who choose not to have a civil partnership, but feel that things need to be formalised to avoid future misunderstandings.

It is important that legal advice is sought by both sides, and agreements updated whenever there is a significant change, e.g. having children.

Writing a will

Making a will does not need to be complicated. Most wills are straightforward, inexpensive, and require very little time to process. Once completed, they provide reassurance that your estate will be handled in accordance with your wishes.

For people entering into a civil partnership, existing wills are deemed invalid and need to be amended to take account of the civil partnership. Equally important is the recognition under the new will of any existing provisions which require amending.

Writing a will is as important for those not in a civil partnership. Where there is no will, there is little legal protection for a surviving partner. There have been many situations where a grieving partner’s wishes have been ignored by the deceased’s family, causing concern and distress. Making a will can avoid this.

There are solicitors who offer cost effective services for Pre-Civil Partnership Agreements and will writing.

Life Assurance & Critical Illness Cover

Whether you are single, in a relationship or have dependants, it is important to consider the financial consequences of your death or illness. A life assurance policy can provide cost effective cover in the event of death, in the form of a lump sum or income.

No one likes to think they will experience a critical illness, but in reality it could happen to anyone of us, at any age and at any time. Statistically, we are three times more likely to suffer a critical illness before the age of 60 than we are to die before that age.* Have you considered how you would cope financially should you or your partner be diagnosed with a critical illness?

On a successful claim, a Critical Illness Policy would provide a lump sum payment to help support you and your dependants.

The good news is that Life Assurance Companies no longer treat gay or bisexual men differently on the basis of sexuality, in underwriting their life assurance application.

You may have existing insurance policies; it is always useful to review them to ensure they are cost effective and provide adequate cover.

Income Protection Cover

According to government statistics, 7% of the working population are unable to work due to incapacity. Many of these people have been unable to work as a result of their condition for longer then two years.**

Consider what provisions are available to you, either from personal resources or your employer/s, to sustain your income in the event of long term incapacity.

Protecting your income is about protecting your lifestyle.

Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance can provide useful short-term cover for up to two years in assisting with the monthly payments on your mortgage in the event of accident, sickness or unemployment.

Income Protection Insurance can provide a replacement income if illness or injury means you are unable to work and your income stops. It pays a regular monthly benefit for a specific term , until you are fit enough to return to work.

Some points to remember….

• Plan and prepare for the unexpected.

• Full, impartial and professional legal and financial advice should be sought.

• Give careful consideration to making or reviewing your will.

• Consider - is life assurance, income p

hose not in a civil partnership. Where there is no will, there is little legal protection for a surviving partner. There have been many situations where a grieving partner’s wishes have been ignored by the deceased’s family, causing concern and distress. Making a will can avoid this.

There are solicitors who offer cost effective services for Pre-Civil Partnership Agreements and will writing.

Life Assurance & Critical Illness Cover

Whether you are single, in a relationship or have dependants, it is important to consider the financial consequences of your death or illness. A life assurance policy can provide cost effective cover in the event of death, in the form of a lump sum or income.

No one likes to think they will experience a critical illness, but in reality it could happen to anyone of us, at any age and at any time. Statistically, we are three times more likely to suffer a critical illness before the age of 60 than we are to die before that age.* Have you considered how you would cope financially should you or your partner be diagnosed with a critical illness?

On a successful claim, a Critical Illness Policy would provide a lump sum payment to help support you and your dependants.

The good news is that Life Assurance Companies no longer treat gay or bisexual men differently on the basis of sexuality, in underwriting their life assurance application.

You may have existing insurance policies; it is always useful to review them to ensure they are cost effective and provide adequate cover.

Income Protection Cover

According to government statistics, 7% of the working population are unable to work due to incapacity. Many of these people have been unable to work as a result of their condition for longer then two years.**

Consider what provisions are available to you, either from personal resources or your employer/s, to sustain your income in the event of long term incapacity.

Protecting your income is about protecting your lifestyle.

Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance can provide useful short-term cover for up to two years in assisting with the monthly payments on your mortgage in the event of accident, sickness or unemployment.

Income Protection Insurance can provide a replacement income if illness or injury means you are unable to work and your income stops. It pays a regular monthly benefit for a specific term , until you are fit enough to return to work.

Some points to remember….

• Plan and prepare for the unexpected.

• Full, impartial and professional legal and financial advice should be sought.

• Give careful consideration to making or reviewing your will.

• Consider - is life assurance, income p

a critical illness before the age of 60 than we are to die before that age.* Have you considered how you would cope financially should you or your partner be diagnosed with a critical illness?

On a successful claim, a Critical Illness Policy would provide a lump sum payment to help support you and your dependants.

The good news is that Life Assurance Companies no longer treat gay or bisexual men differently on the basis of sexuality, in underwriting their life assurance application.

You may have existing insurance policies; it is always useful to review them to ensure they are cost effective and provide adequate cover.

Income Protection Cover

According to government statistics, 7% of the working population are unable to work due to incapacity. Many of these people have been unable to work as a result of their condition for longer then two years.**

Consider what provisions are available to you, either from personal resources or your employer/s, to sustain your income in the event of long term incapacity.

Protecting your income is about protecting your lifestyle.

Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance can provide useful short-term cover for up to two years in assisting with the monthly payments on your mortgage in the event of accident, sickness or unemployment.

Income Protection Insurance can provide a replacement income if illness or injury means you are unable to work and your income stops. It pays a regular monthly benefit for a specific term , until you are fit enough to return to work.

Some points to remember….

• Plan and prepare for the unexpected.

• Full, impartial and professional legal and financial advice should be sought.

• Give careful consideration to making or reviewing your will.

• Consider - is life assurance, income p

e available to you, either from personal resources or your employer/s, to sustain your income in the event of long term incapacity.

Protecting your income is about protecting your lifestyle.

Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance can provide useful short-term cover for up to two years in assisting with the monthly payments on your mortgage in the event of accident, sickness or unemployment.

Income Protection Insurance can provide a replacement income if illness or injury means you are unable to work and your income stops. It pays a regular monthly benefit for a specific term , until you are fit enough to return to work.

Some points to remember….

• Plan and prepare for the unexpected.

• Full, impartial and professional legal and financial advice should be sought.

• Give careful consideration to making or reviewing your will.

• Consider - is life assurance, income protection, unemployment cover etc relevant to you?

* Source: Health Insurance Guide / The Public Library 2005

** Source : Unum Provident. Why Income Protection/ 06.2006