Preparing your own arrangements

We have become accustomed to the fact that matters in law control our lives to a very great extent, but in death it is probably even more so. We are prone to put off doing things , preferring to ignore matters that should be attended to now.

Legal documents – such as wills, life insurance policies, title deeds or any important documents should be kept in a safe place – but not a secret place. At least one responsible person should be informed of their location.  Bear in mind that a will is revoked by a subsequent marriage, therefore a new will should be made should you re-marry.

Bank accounts – joint accounts are preferable in the case of husbands and wives, otherwise an account could be “frozen” for a period of time.

Bequeathing of the body, or parts of it, to science – if you wish to do this, arrangements should be made in advance, usually by completing a form of authority available from the relevant hospital or university. Once again, it should not a be “secret” and somebody close, preferably the next of kin, should be informed in order for the recipient source to be notified at the appropriate time.

A pre-arranged funeral – It is a way of making arrangements in a calm and unemotional atmosphere and also assures you that you will have the funeral that you want. – A form is available for you to download here to assist you in your preparations. PDF (423KB)

A pre-arranged funeral not only provides all relevant information it also alleviates the anxiety that goes with decision making at such a time. unlike other funeral directors, we offer to Pre-Arrange a funeral, absolutley free.

Probate and Death Duties – needless expense and sometimes hardship to families can be relieved by proper pre-planning.  A legal authority specialising in this issue should be consulted – it is a highly specialised matter today.