Planning Ahead Checklist
Getting Organised
Everyone is different. Some people will want to be very organised and will have everything clear and neatly filed. Others may just want to do the basics.
It can help to have an idea of what needs to be done, so we have created a basic Planning Ahead Checklist. It does not include everything but covers key information and tasks to consider and gathering together.
You can find this information below, or in a printable form in our Planning Ahead Checklist.
Key Legal Documentation
Make sure this is up to date and in order. Regularly review it, particularly if your circumstances change.
- Last Will and Testament (appoint executors, ideally with their knowledge & consent).
- Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) for Health & Welfare and for Property & Financial Affairs.
- Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT or Living Will).
Other Important Documentation
- Letter of Wishes/Letter of Funeral Wishes
- Organ Donor Registration or opt in/out choice
- Legacy Will/Ethical Will
Household and Administrative Information
This list is not exhaustive and not all of it will be relevant to everyone, but can be adjusted as required.
- National Insurance/Pension record
- National Health number
- Unique Taxpayer Reference
- Passport number
- Property deeds
- Employer information
- Lawyer
- Accountant
- Financial adviser
- Bank accounts
- Credit card providers
- Details of outstanding loans
- Insurers (household, mortgage, life, health, car, pet, etc)
- Mortgage provider
- Driving License number
- Car details/loans
- Payment systems (eg PayPal)
- Bitcoin
- Home security system/household safe
- Utility providers (electricity, gas, water)
- Landlord
- Mobile phone
- Landline telephone
- Internet
- Newspapers & magazines
- Social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc)
- TV and media subscriptions (Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc)
- Books and audiobook subscriptions
- Online gaming subscriptions
- Online photo/data storage (ICloud, etc)
- Online music/playlists (Spotify, etc)
- Antivirus
- Gym or health club membership
- Sports, social and other club memberships
- Loyalty cards
Business Owners
Think carefully about the impact your death will have on your business and plan accordingly. This will depend on the type and size of the business, but whatever the set up, it is good practice to have contingency plans to protect as much as is possible, your partners, colleagues and customers.
Digital Memorials and Digital Legacy
Protect your digital legacy and make sure that the right people have access after you have gone. For more information see Digital Legacy.
Share Information
Sharing information with those closest to you can help avoid disputes and disagreements after you have gone. Discussing end of life decisions around treatment and care, and writing down or talking about your funeral wishes will give friends and relatives the confidence that they are acting in accordance with your wishes.
Make sure this information is written down and kept somewhere secure, in print form or in a digital locker. Ensure that the relevant people know where to find it and how to access it.
