Making things easier when you're gone

You should always consider how to make things easier for your loved ones when you’re gone. Nobody wants to think about a time when they will no longer be alive, but unfortunately that day will come. If it’s been planned in advance the strain left on loved ones can be significantly reduced, easing the grieving process as much as possible.

One of the most obvious things to do to help your loved ones is perhaps also the hardest: if possible, prepare your thoughts on the kind of funeral you would prefer. This incorporates your choice of burial or cremation, if there is a preferred cemetery or particular grave plot you would like, or which funeral home you would like for the service. Some people choose to pay for certain things in advance of their death, reducing the financial implications on the deceased’s family. During times of grief, families can be pressured into agreeing to services outside of their means to ‘show respect’ for the departed; clear outlines can prevent this happening, as your family know they are doing what you would have chosen. If you have preferences as to the style of coffin or headstone, these too can be purchased in advance or explicitly explained in written requests.

The will is also crucial. Desired plans for the funeral service can be written into the will to ensure they are followed, but in some instances the will is not read until after the burial or cremation. If you are listing your preferences into the will, it is better to let your family know that the plans are held there, to ensure things proceed as you had intended. It is possible to draft a will independently, but in most cases it is better to seek appropriate legal advice to make sure everything is done correctly. After a death, handling the estate can be very difficult and emotional. A clear will relieves some of the decision making pressure from your executor, helping the process to be smooth and less painful.

It is also useful to have clear records of your finances and debts, with official documents kept in a folder so that everything is accessible after death. Significant assets pass into the hands of the government because the heirs did not know of their existence. This can include life insurance policies and pensions. Make sure everything is listed clearly, with any relevant account details or associated paperwork, to help your family when you can no longer answer their questions.