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<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif"><i>Becoming a parent is a wonderful and life-changing event, and for single parents, the responsibility can feel even greater. </i></span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">One of the most important steps you can take to protect your child’s future is to make a will. A well-drafted will ensures that your wishes are respected and that your child is cared for, both emotionally and financially, should anything happen to you. Here are the key considerations for single parents when making a will.</span></p><h3 style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Appointing a Guardian</span></h3><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Perhaps the most crucial decision for a single parent is appointing a guardian for your child. This is the person who will take on parental responsibility if you pass away before your child turns 18.</span></p><ul><li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Choose Carefully: Consider who shares your values, has a good relationship with your child, and is willing and able to take on the role.</span></li><li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Discuss Your Choice: Speak to your chosen guardian beforehand to ensure they are comfortable with the responsibility.</span></li><li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Name a Substitute: It is helpful to name an alternative guardian in case your first choice is unable or unwilling to act when the time comes.</span></li></ul><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">The legislation in this area is the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964. Section 6 of the Act provides that, on the death of the parent of an infant, any surviving parent shall be the guardian either alone or jointly with any guardian appointed under a Will. Section 7 of this Act specifies that the guardian named under the Will (testamentary guardian) shall act alongside any surviving parent as joint guardians. Either the testamentary guardian or a surviving parent can apply to court for orders pertaining to the custody of the infant.</span></p><h3 style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Financial Provision for your Child</span></h3><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">You will want to ensure that your child is financially secure. This involves deciding how your assets will be managed and distributed.</span></p><ul><li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Trusts for Minors: Children under 18 cannot inherit directly. You can set up a trust in your will, specifying how and when your child should receive their inheritance.</span></li><li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Appointing Trustees: Trustees manage the assets on behalf of your child until they reach the age you specify (often 18 or 21). Choose people you trust to act in your child’s best interests.</span></li><li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Specific Gifts: You may wish to leave particular items or sums of money to your child or others.</span></li></ul><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">You will also need to appoint an executor(s). This is the person(s) who carry out your wishes. They can be the same people as the trustees.</span></p><h3 style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Letter of Wishes</span></h3><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">While not legally binding, a letter of wishes can accompany your will. This document can provide guidance to guardians and trustees about how you would like your child to be raised, educated, or supported. </span></p><h3 style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Reviewing your Will</span></h3><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Circumstances change over time. Review your will regularly, especially if there are changes in your family situation, finances, or if your chosen guardian’s circumstances change. </span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">It is also important to let your executor, trustees, guardian know where your original Will is stored - and perhaps retain a copy at home.</span></p><h3 style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Conclusion</span></h3><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">Making a will as a single parent can be complex, particularly when trusts and guardianship are involved. It’s advisable to speak to your solicitor to ensure your will is valid and reflects your wishes accurately.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif"><i>Elaine Byrne is a solicitor with Elaine Byrne Solicitors in Athboy, County Meath</i></span></p><p><span style="color:black;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif"><strong>Disclaimer: </strong>Please note that this article is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be legal advice. While every care has been taken in its production, no legal responsibility or liability is accepted warranted or implied by the author, publishers or the Law Society of Ireland in respect of any errors, omissions or misstatement. Readers are advised to seek independent professional legal advice before acting on anything in this article.   </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif"> </span></p>

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Making a Will as a Single Parent: Key Legal and Practical Considerations

<p>When a person dies after spending the final months or years in a nursing home, there may be a debt to the nursing home which will be due for payment.</p><p>These outstanding debts may cause stress for spouses, children and family members of the deceased. The following is a short guide to the way nursing home debts are treated in Ireland.<br />If in doubt, get independent legal and financial advice.</p><h3>Responsibility for Nursing Home Debt</h3><p>In Ireland, nursing home debt is the responsibility of the deceased's estate and is paid after their death by their personal representative (executor or administrator).</p><p>If the deceased was in the <a href="https://www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/fair-deal-scheme/about/">Fair Deal Scheme</a>, any outstanding loan facility from the HSE must be repaid from the estate (funded by the sale of the deceased’s property), usually:</p><ul><li>Within 12 months of death, or</li><li>Within 6 months if the home was sold (prior to passing away) or transferred.</li></ul><p>Nursing homes and the HSE can claim unpaid fees from the estate. If the estate is insolvent (has insufficient assets), these debts may go unpaid.</p><h4>The Deceased's Estate is Responsible for Outstanding Debts</h4><ul><li>Personal Representative: The executor (if there was a will) or administrator (if there was no will – known as dying intestate) will gather all the assets of the deceased.</li><li>Insolvent Estate: If the estate's assets aren't enough to cover the funeral expenses, administration costs, and debts, it is considered insolvent.</li><li>No Obligation for Children: Children of the deceased are not typically obligated to pay nursing home debts unless they were a guarantor for the debt or the debt was in their name as well. If the estate is insufficient to cover debts, the beneficiaries typically do not have to pay them personally.</li></ul><h4>Fair Deal Scheme and Loan Repayment</h4><ul><li>Loan Postponement: Under the Fair Deal Scheme, the HSE pays nursing home fees, and a loan can be taken out based on assets like property, with repayment postponed until after the person's death.</li><li>Repayment Timeline: This loan must be repaid within 12 months of the person's death, or within 6 months if their property is sold or transferred at any point.</li><li>Interest: If the loan is not repaid by the due date, interest will be charged from the date of death.</li></ul><h4>Process of Paying Debts</h4><ol><li>Funeral and Administration Expenses: The first priority is to pay for the funeral and the expenses of managing the estate.</li><li>Preferential Debts: Next are preferential debts like taxes.</li><li>Ordinary Debts: Finally, other ordinary debts, such as nursing home fees and other unsecured debts (like credit cards and loans), are paid from any remaining assets.</li></ol><h4>If There Are No Assets</h4><ul><li>If the deceased has no assets, the debts cannot be paid, and the creditors will likely have to write off the debt.</li><li>The HSE and other creditors cannot claim the debt from the family of the deceased unless they are legally responsible for it.</li></ul><h3>What You Should Do</h3><ul><li>Contact the Executor/Administrator: If you are a family member, you should contact the personal representative to understand the estate's financial status.</li><li>Contact the Nursing Home: They will have details of any outstanding debts owing or that may not have been covered by the Fair Deal if the deceased was in the scheme.</li><li>Contact the HSE: If you are unsure about the Fair Deal loan or the outstanding fees, contact the Health Service Executive (HSE) for clarity.</li><li>Contact <a href="https://www.mabs.ie/">MABS</a>: For further information, MABS – The Money Advice and Budgeting Service.</li><li>Fair Deal: <a href="https://www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/fair-deal-scheme/about/">About the Fair Deal scheme.</a></li></ul><p> </p>

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What Happens to Nursing Home Debts After a Person Passes Away

<p><strong>Every step has meaning. Every walk tells a story.</strong></p><p>The idea for the<a href="https://ripremembers.rip.ie/"> RIP.ie Remembers Walk</a> began with a simple question: <i>How can we celebrate this 20-year milestone in a way that truly reflects what RIP.ie stands for?</i> For two decades, RIP.ie has been more than a website; it has been a place where Ireland comes together to pay respects, share condolences, and honour loved ones. In times of grief, it has offered comfort and connection, helping families and communities feel less alone.</p><p>As we looked ahead to this anniversary, we wanted to build on that sense of community and bring the online platform into the real world. The answer came in the form of something simple yet deeply meaningful: walking.</p><figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQvLMkz0B1E&amp;t=10s"><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56.2493%"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yQvLMkz0B1E?start=10" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;top:0;left:0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></figure><h3>Why Walking?</h3><p>Walking has long been associated with reflection and healing. There’s something profoundly calming about moving through nature, green fields, quiet paths, the sound of water or birdsong. For many, these walks become moments of connection with those who have passed away: a time to think about them, to remember their stories, and even to speak to them in our hearts.</p><p>This sense of peace and renewal inspired the RIP.ie Remembers Walk. It’s not about speed or competition. It’s about creating space to honour someone special and to carry their memory forward.</p><h3>A Walk With Purpose</h3><p>The<a href="https://ripremembers.rip.ie/"> RIP.ie Remembers Walk</a> invites everyone to take 20 kilometers during March—at your own pace, in your own way.</p><ul><li>Dedicate your walk to someone you’ve lost. Make it a personal tribute.</li><li>Fundraise for a charity close to your heart. Turn remembrance into action.</li><li>Help new life take root. For every fundraising registrant, RIP.ie will plant native woodland in Carlow, creating a lasting legacy of hope.</li></ul><h3>Together, Across Ireland and Beyond</h3><p>Whether you walk alone, with family, or as part of a group, you’ll be joining thousands of others who share the same purpose: to remember, to connect, and to give back.</p><p>This March, let’s walk for those who shaped our lives. Let’s walk for those we’ll never forget.</p><p><a href="https://ripremembers.rip.ie/">Register today at RIP.ie</a> and be part of a nationwide movement of remembrance, hope, and community.</p><p><strong>Sign Up Here: </strong><a href="https://ripremembers.rip.ie/"><strong>https://ripremembers.rip.ie/</strong></a></p>

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Why We Walk: The Story Behind RIP.ie Remembers

<p>Grief is a deeply personal journey, often accompanied by feelings of heaviness, fatigue, and emotional chaos. During such times, even simple daily tasks can feel overwhelming. While there is no “right” way to grieve, research and professional insights increasingly highlight the healing potential of movement, particularly walking, as a gentle and accessible way to support mental and emotional well-being.</p><p>Insights from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bolandjohn0/">John Boland</a> at <a href="https://www.getirelandwalking.ie/">Get Ireland Walking</a> highlight how walking can be a simple yet profoundly supportive practice during times of loss, helping individuals process emotions, stay grounded, and connect with their own wellbeing.</p><h3>How Walking Supports Mental and Emotional Health</h3><p>From a mental health perspective, walking has powerful effects on the brain and nervous system. Regular walking increases endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin, chemicals that support mood, motivation, and emotional regulation. At the same time, steady, rhythmic walking helps regulate cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, particularly when walking is calm rather than rushed.</p><p>Large studies consistently show that walking reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression, which is why walking is recommended by health organisations such as the NHS and the World Health Organisation as a first-line activity for mental wellbeing.</p><p>Walking also supports the nervous system. Gentle, repetitive movement helps shift the body out of a “fight or flight” state and into a calmer “rest and digest” mode. This can reduce emotional reactivity, improve sleep, and make intense feelings feel more manageable.</p><p>Cognitively, walking supports emotional processing. The natural left-right rhythm of walking stimulates both sides of the brain, helping with memory integration and emotional regulation. Many people find that their thoughts feel clearer, less repetitive, and easier to tolerate while walking than when sitting still.</p><h3>Why Walking Can Be Especially Supportive During Grief</h3><p>Grief often involves emotional extremes,<a href="https://rip.ie/grief-and-bereavement-support/when-everything-feels-overwhelming-one-breath-at-a-time-237"> feeling overwhelmed</a> one moment and <a href="https://rip.ie/grief-and-bereavement-support/when-you-feel-numb-or-disconnected-one-breath-at-a-time-274">emotionally numb</a> the next. Gentle forward movement can feel supportive rather than confrontational, allowing emotions to move and change without being forced.</p><p>Walking also reduces pressure to talk. Moving side-by-side, rather than face-to-face, can make it easier to sit with silence, cry without feeling observed, or speak in fragments rather than full explanations. This can be especially helpful for people who feel emotionally flooded or shut down.</p><p>Many people also find that memories surface gradually while walking, often feeling less intense than deliberate reflection. While walking is not a replacement for therapy in cases of traumatic or prolonged grief, it can be a valuable companion to other forms of support.</p><h3>The Role of Nature </h3><p>When possible, walking outdoors can further enhance emotional well-being. Research shows that walking in green or blue spaces is associated with reduced rumination, lower perceived stress, and improved mood and attention. Simply engaging the senses, noticing light, sound, air, and movement, can help people feel more grounded and connected to the present moment.</p><h3>Practical Way to Use Walking for Emotional Well-being </h3><ul style="list-style-type:disc"><li>Start with intention, not distance: Mental health benefits do not require long or fast walks. Ten to fifteen minutes at a comfortable pace can be enough.</li></ul><ul><li>Match the walk to how you feel:<ul style="list-style-type:circle"><li>If anxious or overwhelmed, choose a slow, rhythmic pace.</li><li>If feeling low or lethargic, a slightly brisk walk in daylight can help.</li></ul></li><li>Use sensory grounding: Notice what you can see, hear, and physically feel to stay present.</li><li>Walk alone or with someone safe: Walking alone can foster reflection, while walking with others can support connection without pressure.</li></ul><h3>A Gentle Way Forward</h3><p>As we celebrate the <a href="https://ripremembers.rip.ie/campaign/rip-ie-remembers">RIP.ie 20th anniversary</a> in 2026, it is a time to reflect on the <a href="https://rip.ie/grief-and-bereavement-support/7-simple-ways-to-be-kind-to-yourself-while-you-are-grieving-307">ways we look after ourselves</a> and each other through life’s challenges. Walking may be a simple act, but it offers deep support for navigating grief and finding moments of peace. Each step is a small, yet meaningful gesture toward healing and an act of care for the mind and body.</p><p> </p>

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The Healing Power of Walking: How Walking Supports Mental and Emotional Health During Grief

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