We all hope that we can look forward to a happy and healthy future, but unfortunately this isn’t always the case. We never know when illness, accident or even death may strike, so rather than leaving your family to deal with the legalities this brings during an upsetting time, why not help them by making your wishes clear in a will and lasting power of attorneys (LPAs)?

According to the government’s “Office of the Public Guardian” over 60% of potential Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) customers wrongly believe that their next of kin always make decisions on the patient’s behalf if they are incapable of doing so without the need for an LPA to be in place. They also incorrectly believe that either half of a couple can make decisions regarding their joint bank account or home in joint names, when one party no longer have the capability to agree. 40% aren’t interested as they don’t believe it will affect them and don’t want to tempt fate1. Yet according to the Alzheimer’s Society 1 in 3 people over 65 will develop dementia2, and Headway reports3 that every 90 seconds someone in the UK is admitted to hospital with an acquired brain injury, so the statistics do not support this belief.

LPA documents enable another person (named in the document) to take control of your affairs when you are no longer able to do this for yourself.

They can relate to ‘wealth’ with control of your finances and ‘health’, providing the ability for others to decide what the best health care plan is for you.

We do know one thing about our futures, that death is inevitable. Creating a will ensures that everyone is aware of your wishes upon your death, enabling you to decide what will happen to your money, property and possessions.

Making a will can also ensure that you don’t pay more inheritance tax than is necessary. If you die without having a valid will in place, your estate is distributed according to the legal rules set out intestacy, not according to your wishes. Once a will is active, the legal process of probate will enable your executors to deal with your estate. It is also important that once you have a will in place that you regularly update it, to reflect any changes to your situation and ensure that they are stored safely, yet easily accessed.

Whilst we may not want to consider that the our future may not be as rosy as we hope, or consider our inevitable demise, it is much better for our loved ones that we at least start the conversation and get our wishes laid out.

1ipsos MORI poll results – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lasting-powers-of-attorney-the-future

2Alzheimer’s Society – https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/info/20025/policy_and_influencing/251/dementia_uk

3 Headway – https://www.headway.org.uk/about-brain-injury/further-information/statistics/