Getting your affairs in order
Think back to the most emotional time in your life. Chances are it was when someone you love died. Not only were you dealing with your own grief, but others around you needed your support, too, and if that person was your parent or partner, you also had the added pressure of dealing with their estate. Perhaps you were lucky, and your loved one was well organised, making things easier for you at a devastating time by having all their administrative information together in one place so you could deal with their estate quickly and relatively stress-free. However, this is often not the case, and executors can find themselves sifting through a lifetime of someone's paperwork and belongings - an arduous task at the best of times, never mind when you're dealing with losing a person you loved dearly.
We created Leighan's List because we found ourselves in the latter situation and now want to help people limit the extra burden we experienced when dealing with our beloved sister's estate. Leighan's List is just that: a list that enables you to keep a record of all your assets so people know where to find them after you die. It also contains a list of key contacts so you can let the right people know what has happened when the time comes.
Keeping a list of what you own is a valuable tool for estate planning and administration. By maintaining an inventory of your assets (think property, bank accounts, valuable assets) and how to access them, you can ensure that nothing is overlooked or forgotten and everything is dealt with during the probate process. It's a way to ensure your assets are passed on to who you want to have them, reduce the chance of disputes between beneficiaries, and minimise the time it takes for your heirs to receive their inheritances.
So, let's look at what's included in Leighan's List.
Essential information
Leighan's List starts with some basic information usually requested by the people and organisations your executors will need to contact after you die. In addition to the usual name, address and phone numbers, include your National Insurance number, HMRC reference and Date of Birth.
Key contacts
Informing key contacts and companies promptly after someone's death helps ensure the necessary arrangements are made and legal and financial matters are dealt with. Beneficiaries can receive their inheritance quickly, reducing any financial burden that the death may bring, for example, making mortgage payments or paying off credit cards. Key contacts include your:
Employer
Pension provider
Doctor
Dentist
Solicitor
Whoever has your will
Your will
Having a will is the starting point for estate planning. It's a legal document that records your wishes about how you want your assets distributed and your affairs managed after you pass away. In addition to noting when you made your will, you should also record where the original of your will is stored, for example, with your solicitor, who created your will, and the date it was signed.
You should also note who your executors are. An executor is the person (or persons) legally responsible for distributing your estate. When you ask someone to be the executor, It's a good idea to explain what they'll need to do when the time comes. Age UK has an information guide you can refer them to for further information.
Power of Attorney
A Power of Attorney is a legal document that appoints people you trust to look after your property, finances, and/or health and welfare if you don't have the mental capacity to do it yourself. It's important to record who your attorneys are, as a Power of Attorney only lasts your lifetime, and your attorney/s are responsible for telling the Office of the Guardian that you have passed away. More information can be found on the Office of the Public Guardian website.
Financial information
The List of your financial information is probably the most crucial element of Leighan's List. Provide as much detail as possible, including account name, number and contact phone number. You should make a record of your:
Bank and Building Society accounts
Credit cards
Loans
Assets (savings accounts/shares/ISAs etc)
Pensions
Insurances (life/health etc)
Properties
Digital records
Our world has become heavily digitised, and many of us have digital records, such as social media accounts and use cloud storage to back up emails, photos, videos, documents, etc. We conduct thousands of transactions online (think Amazon), and your estate planning needs to include your digital assets.
Use Leighan's List to create a comprehensive record of your digital accounts, including email providers, social media platforms, digital subscriptions, and other platforms where you store personal information. You can note down what you want to happen to your digital records. For example, you may wish to delete your social media accounts or photos to go to certain family members.
Government agencies
Several Government departments may need to be informed should you pass away, for example:
Pensions Service
Jobcentre Plus to cancel any benefits
HMRC for anything to do with tax and Child Benefit payments (if applicable)
DVLA
Passport Agency
Local government offices:
Electoral Register
Housing benefit
Council tax office
Bus pass
Disabled parking permits
Library membership.
Rather than having to inform these agencies individually, your executor can use the 'Tell Us Once' service to report your death to most government departments in one go.
Other contacts
Finally, others who will need to be informed when you die include:
Utility providers (gas, electricity, water)
Internet/phone providers
Car/home insurers
Maintenance agreements (boiler or home appliance servicing companies)
Gym memberships
Club memberships
Professional body subscriptions
Magazine subscriptions
TV subscriptions (Sky/Netflix etc)
Leighan's List exists to help you document your assets, ensuring that your wishes are honoured and your estate is managed smoothly by your executors when the time comes. Please remember that while it serves as a helpful guide, it may not capture all of your unique needs and preferences. We encourage you to personalise it to better reflect your individual circumstances. If you’d like to speak to us about how Leighan’s List can help you or someone you know, please send us a message.
Comments