Plan for the future – and help loved ones

Being prepared for your own death is an essential part of life. Here are simple steps to take

1. THINK ABOUT YOUR FUNERAL “The first step to helping your family, and also ensuring your wishes for your funeral are followed, is to write them down,” says Executive Director of Red Apple Law (www.myredapplelaw.com), Angie Wilson.

Think about what you would want in a service – and let your family know what you don’t want as well. Talk through the ceremony with your loved ones.

2. START SAVING NOW

“Dying is actually a fairly expensive business,” says Angie. “And even the most simple of funerals can cost thousands of pounds.”

So what can you do about it? There are a few options, from putting money into a high interest savings account, to a ‘later years’-type life insurance plan or a pre-paid funeral plan. But check any plan covers what you expect it to. Check the small print and see what is included.

3. ENSURE YOU’RE INSURED

“We’ve all seen the adverts and given fleeting thoughts around ‘what if ’ and many of us have life insurance in place, so we’re ok right?,” says Angie.

“Maybe so but when was the last time you checked the suitability of your policy?”

If your circumstances have changed, you could well be paying monthly for something that wouldn’t actually pay out.

4. PASS ON YOUR PASSWORDS

Who knows your online passwords? One option is a ‘digital asset vault’, where you can store passwords, important documents and other sensitive pieces of information. You then appoint trusted people with whom you can share this encrypted password with either during your lifetime or when you choose for them to have it.

5. WHERE THERE’S A WILL…

Why bother with a will? If you die without a valid will in place, partners may get nothing and you won’t get to choose who you would like to care for your children or deal with your affairs after you have gone.

“Worst of all,” says Angie, “if you have no relatives, your Estate goes to the Crown.”