There’s no getting away from it, modern life is complex. There always seem to be more maintenance and administrative things to do than we have time and attention for – keeping track of spending and assets, dealing with utility contracts, checking pension and health arrangements, making and keeping appointments, deciding which letters and emails need attention and which are junk. And all the time we can’t help wondering if there’s something vitally important we’ve somehow managed to miss or forget …

So much of what we need to pay attention to has legal and statutory implications. If we don’t complete that form correctly we may well be responsible for something we hadn’t foreseen. We may be liable for large sums of money we don’t have, or be missing out on benefits we’re entitled to. And what if we have an accident, are diagnosed with a serious illness, or – as we all certainly will – die? Are all our affairs in order, and will those looking after our interests know what to do?

It would be very easy to let everything get on top of us and drag us into inaction, or worse, denial, but taking the necessary steps as soon as possible will give both you and the people who care about you clarity and peace of mind. The list of things to do isn’t actually that long or difficult.

  • If you haven’t already, make a will. It can be quite simple, and there are online guides with clear support and instruction, but if you need professional help then seek it out.
  • If you haven’t already, make a power of attorney so it’s clear who you would like to be in charge of your affairs if for any reason you’re not able to do it yourself. At the least your power of attorney should cover financial and health issues, but can also include your wishes about where and how you want to live.
  • In the shorter term the most useful thing you can do is create a letter of intent, or letter of instruction. Such a document has no legal standing, so when you die it cannot supersede a will, but a letter of intent or instruction is a personal and detailed document that you should keep on hand in case of emergency. It should include everything from your passwords and PINs, through lists of assets and financial arrangements, to the music you want at your funeral. When you have completed it make sure you give a copy to your spouse, partner, child or closest friend, and that it is updated regularly. Again there are very good models of such documents available online.

And that’s it. You’ll almost certainly feel better once you’ve done it!