Getting your Affairs in Order – My Twenty-Five Top Tips

Over 2023/24, as updated in 2025/26, I posted on LinkedIn 20 brief articles on the Background to/Content from my Book Your Last Gift – Getting Your Affairs in Order. With the 3 rd Edition of my Book in prospect, I have revised the List to make it 25 Top Tips, as set out below.

I want to begin by quoting a really good observation on my introductory post on 14 August 2023 “Preparing for Death – Starting the Conversation”, from Simon Lofthouse, Head of Private Client at Corbett Le Quesne: “A Will is just a small part of the end-of-life planning process. I always advocate lots of conversations so there are no surprises. Expectations can
be managed and education provided if things are complex.”

Indeed. While many people may assume that the process begins and ends with the Will (which may be too often left to gather dust in the solicitor’s vault, whereas of course it needs to be regularly reviewed and updated), the subject is so much broader than that. I love Simon’s suggestion of lots of conversations.

The List
1. My 20 Questions for you to Answer
2. Avoiding the Negatives and Securing the Positives
3. Relationships
4. Lasting Powers of Attorney – and Medical Wishes
5. Why don’t People Make a Will?
6. Your Will – The Executor(s): Choosing Wisely
7. Your Will – The Essentials
8. Preparing for the End
9. Funeral Arrangements
10. The Death Certificate: What is it and How does One Get it?
11. Arrangements for Children, Dependents and Pets
12. Digital Assets
13. Ready Access to Cash pre-Probate – in Case of Need by your Surviving
Spouse/Partner
14. The Death Certificate: Having the Necessary Information/Documents.
15. People to Contact
16. Interests in one or more Businesses and/or Management of Charities, Associations
etc.
17. Inheritance Tax (IHT) Planning
18. Pensions

19. Your House/Flat and your Home Contents – Dealing with Them Post-Death
20. Charities Relief: Maximising the Post-tax Estate on Death
21. The Foreign Element: (a) Domicile and Residence and (b) Property Owned Outside
the UK
22. Decluttering: Your Papers & Other ‘Stuff’
23. Places to Visit/People to See
24. Thinking about God and the After-life
25. How are you Doing with Getting your Affairs in Order?

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