The Lions Club message in a bottle – the lifesaver in your fridge
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Thinking about the future and some of the practicalities is important but not easy. Hospices are experts in these topics and the Hospice UK website has a variety of information which can help you broach or explore the subject.
Some of the key things to think about are:
Your Will
A will is a legal document which outlines exactly what will happen to your money, property and possessions after your die. Without a will, your possessions will be shared according to laws and procedures rather than your preferences.
Leaving a will makes life a lot easier for those you love and coming to terms with losing you. You can find out more here at this government link.
You can write your own Will – many banks and charities even supermarkets provide guidance. Citizen’s advice can help too. Alternatively you can instruct a solicitor .
Your “digital estate”
Easy to ignore but essential to consider what you want to happen to all of your digital content after you die. From emails, photos, social media accounts, files and folders your digital estate can be considerable and likely password protected.
Increasingly your devices will allow you to nominate a legacy contact who will be able to access your accounts.
Give some thought about how you and yours will be able to access your digital estate once you have moved on.
You can find out more at The Digital Legacy Association website.
Organ donation
Donating your organs can also involve donating your corneas and tissues (such as skin, tendons and bones).
The specific laws on donating organs are different in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales but essentially mean the same thing i.e.
All adults (aged 18 years or more) are assumed to be organ donors unless they have registered a decision to opt out.
Some adults are excluded from this arrangement:
- People who lack the mental capacity to understand the new arrangements and take the necessary action
- Visitors to England, and those not living here voluntarily
- People who have lived in England for less than 12 months before their death
If you would like to understand more about what will happen to your body after you die then visit the NHS site which provides details of all the different laws and also allows you to opt out.
Funeral arrangements
If you want to make any instructions about your funeral arrangements then you can speak to your family, leave a written note, or include instructions in your Will. You can also arrange a pre-paid funeral.
Funeral directors, charities such as Age UK and Marie Curie can provide information to help you. The National Association of Funeral Directors website includes all sorts of valuable information which you might want to consider such as livestreaming or funeral scams. See leaflet here
