“There should only ever be one at a time,” joked Victoria Wood when asked about having the words “national treasure” attached to her name.
Tragically, Britain has lost too many national treasures this year, from the much-loved comedian to Alan Rickman, David Bowie, Ronnie Corbett and Sir Terry Wogan.
However, their untimely demise — Wood was just 62 and Bowie was 69 — has brought into sharp focus the importance of planning ahead for the inevitable.
Death and money are two of the least likely subjects for families to discuss, but leaving your family unprepared can add to their stress at an extremely difficult time.
Steve Webb, 50, the former Liberal Democrat pensions minister, who is now director of policy at the insurer Royal London, said he and his wife, Helen, were prompted to write a will when going abroad to celebrate their wedding anniversary about a decade ago, leaving their two young children at home.
Advertisement
“We thought, if something happened to the both of us, how orderly can we make things for everyone else?” he said.
About 190,600 people lost their spouse in 2014, according to estimates by Royal London. Its research, based on 500 people who have been bereaved over the past five years, found almost seven in ten (69%) were unprepared for the loss of their spouse or partner, and fewer than half (41%) of the deceased had a will.
Here are 10 things to do if you want to protect your loved ones from an almighty mess when you die.
1 Talk to your family
This may be obvious but it is a good starting point. You need to discuss everything, from your funeral arrangements to who should inherit your favourite necklace.
2 Advance statement of wishes
The charity Age UK suggests that anyone who finds they start to need help with personal care, such as getting dressed, might want to write an “advance statement of wishes”. These are not legally binding but they set down your preferences, wishes, beliefs and values regarding your future care.
Advertisement
Age UK said: “Advance statements can explain your likes and dislikes and include anything that is important for you to be comfortable. It will be used if you ever lose the ability to make or communicate your own decisions.”
For example, you can stipulate in the document the kinds of food, music and television programmes you like and whether you prefer baths or showers.
It is a good idea to give a copy of your advance statement to all those involved in your care.
3 Make a will
Having a will is important for everyone: it means there are clear instructions about what you want to happen to your money, property, possessions and online accounts .
If you have already made a will, take time to review it to ensure it still reflects your wishes. If you die without a will, it can take much longer to deal with your estate and the people who inherit your money may not necessarily be the people you would have chosen.
Advertisement
You can make a will on your own, but it is generally best to use a solicitor except in very straightforward cases, according to Age UK. The consumer group Which? offers an online will-writing service for as little £109.
4 Lasting power of attorney
A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a way of giving someone you trust the legal authority to make decisions on your behalf.
This is important if at some point in the future you lose the ability to make or communicate your own decisions, or no longer wish to make decisions for yourself.
The person or people you nominate — your attorney(s) — can make decisions about your care, your daily routine, your medication and medical treatments and your living arrangements.
There are two types of LPA. The “health and welfare” version allows you to give someone the authority to make decisions about your healthcare and personal welfare — such as about your care, your daily routine and your medication.
Advertisement
The “property and financial affairs” LPA can be used when you no longer wish to make decisions regarding those matters, for example managing a bank or building society account, paying bills, collecting benefits or a pension and selling your home.
An LPA is valid only if you have the mental capacity to set it up and you have not been put under any pressure to create it. It must be your decision and you must be able to trust your attorney, because you are giving them extensive powers to make decisions about your life.
Many people choose to use a close member of their family, such as a grown-up child or a younger sibling. The LPA must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used.
5 Give advance refusal of dreaded treatment
If you feel strongly that there are some medical treatments you would not want to receive — you might not want to be resuscitated, for instance — you can formalise your wishes in an “advance decision” document.
It is legally binding but can be used only if you lose the capacity to make or communicate decisions about your treatment, such as if you have advanced dementia or are unconscious.
Advertisement
6 Plan your funeral
Some of the things you might like to consider are where you would like your funeral; whether you want a burial or cremation and a religious or secular service ; who you would like invited; what songs or readings you would like; whether you want flowers; and what clothes you would want to be dressed in.
A useful website is yourfuneralchoice.com, which provides details of funeral directors and rough costs.
7 Practical considerations
It can be helpful to gather together key documents such as your passport, driving licence, bank account details, pension plans, insurance policies and will. Keeping these in a safe place and telling your carer, a family member or the executor of your will where they are will make things easier for them later on.
If you rely on the internet to pay bills, shop online or keep in touch with friends, it is sensible to think about what will happen to your digital legacy after you die.
For example, you may want some social media accounts to be deactivated, or you may want close friends or family to be able to recover sentimental items you have stored online, such as photographs.
8 Care for your pets
If you have pets, you need to think about what will happen when you are no longer able to care for them, or after you die. You may know someone who is happy to help but may not be able to keep them permanently.
The Cinnamon Trust (www.cinnamon.org.uk) is a charity for older people and their pets. Their volunteers can help you keep your pets at home for as long as possible, such as by walking your dog or fostering your pet if you have a short stay in hospital.
9 Estate planning
If you have time, it is a good idea to start giving away your assets to reduce any potential inheritance tax liabilities.
An individual’s bequest when they die is liable for inheritance tax of up to 40% on anything above £325,000. If you are married or in a civil partnership, any unused part of the deceased’s £325,000 allowance passes to the surviving spouse.
You can gift as much as you like, in what is known as a “potentially exempt transfer”. If you then survive for a further seven years, it is completely outside your estate for inheritance tax purposes.
10 Consider saving a life
Registering as an organ donor can be a huge help to someone in need after your death. It can also provide enormous comfort to your relatives that your death has helped others. However, it is a personal decision and a very sensitive one, so it is worth thinking about early.
If you decide to sign up, it is quick and easy to register on the NHS organ donation website (organdonation.nhs.uk).