It’s not pleasant to dwell on your own mortality, but it needn’t be painful either, and it certainly shouldn’t be avoided.
Taking practical steps now, while you have the physical and mental capacity, can ensure your wishes are known and carried out. And save your loved ones from undue stress at a difficult time.
Keep reading for your simple checklist for dying tidily and with all your affairs in order.
1. Make a will and keep it updated
The simplest way to plan your legacy and to put your affairs in order is to write a will. This document ensures your wishes are known and allows your wealth to be distributed in line with those preferences.
And yet around half of UK adults don’t currently have a will. Without one, your estate will likely be distributed according to the laws of intestacy, and you will lose any say over who inherits your wealth.
IFA Magazine confirms that the number of estates where the deceased left assets but no will increased by 17% in 2023/24 compared to the previous year, topping 51,000.
Misconceptions persist, too. According to recent Canada Life research:
- 33% of UK adults think their wealth automatically passes to their loved ones.
- 17% believe they don’t need to update an existing will if they marry or remarry.
- 16% expect their cohabiting partner to automatically inherit, even if they’re unmarried.
Be sure to make a will and revisit it at least annually, and after any big life events such as births, deaths, marriages or divorce.
2. Have difficult discussions early to avoid disputes
Back in May 2024, we wrote about 10 surprising estate planning facts and why they matter to you and found that 58% of UK adults have never discussed their legacy with family.
It is perhaps unsurprising, then, that inheritance disputes are on the rise. Back in February 2024, the Guardian reported that around 10,000 wills are disputed in England and Wales each year. And yet, simple communication could mean unpleasantness is avoided.
Having uncomfortable conversations allows you to make your wishes known and, more importantly, explain your reasoning. Ensuring that your loved ones’ expectations are managed and that they have the space to voice concerns while you are still alive should help to avoid arguments and disputes after you are gone.
3. Put an LPA in place now
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone to look after your affairs when you are no longer able to. This might be temporarily due to an accident or as a result of a long-term illness such as dementia.
While an LPA isn’t related to your death, it is still a vital part of your tidily managed affairs. And it can be done at any time from age 18, so there’s really no reason to delay.
There are two types of LPA:
- Property and financial affairs LPA – covers financial matters such as savings and investments, state benefits, and your mortgage, or buying and selling a property.
- Health and welfare LPA – concerns decisions around medical care, daily routines, and life-sustaining treatment.
Putting an LPA in place is relatively quick, and it’s cheaper than the alternative, which can be a lengthy and expensive process for your loved ones.
4. Create an “In Case of Emergency (ICE)” document
An important part of getting your affairs in order is sorting out your paperwork. You might know where your up-to-date will is filed or where you’ve hidden your passwords. But would anyone else be able to find your much-needed information?
This is where an “In Case of Emergency (ICE)” document comes in.
You can use one to compile all your important information in one place. It might include the location of your important documents, or list contact details or account numbers for your mortgage provider, bank accounts, or other utility suppliers.
In the event of your death, your loved ones will be able to easily access your will, inform your bank of your death, and begin the process of settling your affairs.
All you need to do is make your loved ones aware that the ICE document exists… and where it’s kept!
5. Plan your funeral
The death of a loved one is traumatic, and organising the deceased’s affairs is particularly stressful.
From registering a death to finding the necessary paperwork to organising a funeral, there are plenty of decisions to make and ample opportunity for disagreement if the deceased’s wishes aren’t known.
Planning your own funeral allows your friends and family to say goodbye without the worry and stress of deciding what form that goodbye should take.
Think about the type of ceremony you want, where you would like to be buried, or where your ashes should be spread. Pick your own music and readings, and think about the cost too.
The Sunlife ‘Cost of Dying Report 2025’ confirms that the cost of dying is at an all-time high, topping £9,700. This includes more than £4,000 for a funeral and more than £2,500 for professional fees and administration.
You can limit your loved ones’ stress by factoring these costs into your estate planning now.
Get in touch
If you’re looking for an independent financial adviser in Milton Keynes or Olney to help you plan your legacy, look no further. At Jane Smith Financial Planning, we’ve been helping clients for 30 years, so contact us at info@janesmithfinancial.com or call 01234 713131 to see what we can do for you.
Please note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.
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