Make a Will as Soon as Possible: Creating a will ensures your wishes are followed after you pass away. Without one, your assets might not go to the people you want. Don’t put it off!

Choose the Right Type of Will: There are different types of wills, such as single wills for individuals and mirror wills for couples. A solicitor can help you decide which is best for you.

Consider Setting Up Trusts: Trusts can help protect assets for children or vulnerable family members. They also offer control over when and how your beneficiaries receive their inheritance.

Appoint Executors Carefully: An executor is the person who will carry out your will’s instructions. Choose someone you trust, like a family member or a solicitor, to handle this responsibility.

Protect Your Children by Naming Guardians: If you have children under 18, make sure to name guardians in your will. This ensures they’ll be cared for by someone you trust if something happens to you.

Be Aware of Inheritance Tax: If your estate is worth more than the inheritance tax threshold, your beneficiaries might have to pay tax. Speak to a financial advisor or solicitor to explore ways to reduce this.

Use Free Wills Month: During Free Wills Month, you can have your will written or updated for free by participating solicitors if you’re over 55. It’s a great way to save money while ensuring your will is legally sound.

Review Your Will Regularly: Life changes, like marriage, divorce, or having children, can affect your will. Make sure you review and update it regularly to reflect any changes in your situation.

Include Personal Wishes and Instructions: You can add personal touches to your will, like funeral plans or how you’d like personal items distributed. This ensures all your wishes are clearly stated.

Store Your Will Safely: Keep your will in a safe place and make sure your executors know where to find it. You can also register it with the National Will Register for extra security.

Clearly State Your Funeral Preferences: Specify whether you want to be buried or cremated. This is one of the most important choices to make clear in your will or personal instructions.

Leave Instructions in a Will or Letter of Wishes: You can include your funeral wishes in your will or in a separate letter of wishes, which helps your family understand your preferences.

Consider Setting Up a Funeral Plan: A funeral plan allows you to pay for your funeral in advance. This can reduce the financial burden on your family and ensure your wishes are followed.

Specify Religious or Cultural Traditions: If you want a specific religious or cultural ceremony, make sure you include this in your instructions. It helps guide your family and the funeral director.

Choose Music and Readings: If you have specific songs, hymns, or readings in mind for your funeral, write these down so they can be included in the service.

Decide on Charitable Donations: If you prefer donations to a charity instead of flowers at your funeral, make sure to state this in your instructions.

Plan for Special Requests: Whether it's a dress code, specific flowers, or even a particular theme for your funeral, write down any special requests you have so they can be honoured.

Let Family Know Where to Find Your Instructions: Make sure your family or executor knows where to find your funeral wishes. Keep a copy of your will and any additional instructions in a safe but accessible place.

Consider a Green or Eco-Friendly Funeral: If you're concerned about the environment, you can opt for a green burial or eco-friendly cremation. This can be included in your personal wishes.

Review and Update as Needed: As your preferences or circumstances change, update your funeral instructions to reflect your current wishes.

Make a List of All Online Accounts: Write down all your online accounts, including social media, email, banking, and shopping accounts. This helps loved ones know what needs to be managed or closed.

Create Strong Passwords and Store Them Safely: Use a password manager to securely store login details for your online accounts. Share access instructions with a trusted person or include them in your will.

Decide What Happens to Social Media Accounts: Most social media platforms allow you to choose what happens to your account after death, such as memorialising it or deleting it. Make your wishes known in advance.

Use Digital Legacy Tools: Some platforms, like Facebook and Google, offer legacy tools to appoint someone to manage or delete your account after you pass away. Set these up in your account settings.

Include Digital Assets in Your Will: Mention digital assets like photos, videos, or even cryptocurrency in your will, so your executor knows how to handle them.

Leave Instructions for Email Accounts: Email accounts often contain important information. Specify if they should be closed or transferred to a trusted person.

Consider Subscriptions and Online Services: Make a note of any subscriptions (Netflix, Spotify, etc.) that need to be cancelled. This prevents unwanted charges after your death.

Plan for Online Banking and Financial Accounts: List all online banking, PayPal, or investment accounts so your executor can close or manage them according to your wishes.

Back Up Important Data: Regularly back up important files, photos, and videos to a secure location. This ensures your loved ones can access sentimental items after you're gone.

Keep Your Plan Updated: As you create new accounts or change passwords, update your digital legacy plan to make sure everything is current.

Decide Who Will Take Over: Choose who you want to run your business after you pass away. This could be a family member, business partner, or someone you trust to manage it.

Create a Clear Succession Plan: Write down clear instructions on how the business should be managed or transferred. This helps avoid confusion and ensures your wishes are followed.

Appoint a Business Executor: In addition to the executor of your personal will, appoint a business executor to handle business affairs, especially if your business is complex.

Consider Selling the Business: If no one in your family or team can take over, you can include instructions to sell the business. Outline how the sale should be handled and who should benefit from the proceeds.

Plan for Leadership Transition: Make sure the person taking over your business knows their responsibilities. You can include instructions for training or a phased handover to ensure a smooth transition.

Update Legal Documents: Ensure all legal documents, such as partnership agreements or shareholder agreements, are updated to reflect your succession plan. This avoids disputes after your death.

Protect Family Interests: If you want to ensure your family benefits from the business, set up a trust that allows them to receive profits while someone else manages the company.

Consider Tax Implications: Plan for inheritance tax or capital gains tax that could affect the business. Get advice from a financial advisor to minimise the tax burden on your beneficiaries.

Review Insurance Needs: Consider taking out key person insurance or life insurance to provide financial support to your business during the transition period.

Keep Your Plan Updated: Review your business succession plan regularly and update it as needed, especially if your business grows or your personal circumstances change.