Planning for life and death is the new normal
Covid-19 continues to have a massive impact on the global economy and has shown us just how fragile our lives are....More
Latest articles
Health & Care
Care: Looking after yourself first
Being a carer to a loved one can be isolating and exhausting. Here, Mary Jordan offers tips to reduce the stress and help you share the...More
Financial & Legal
Separations, divorce and discretionary trusts
Relationship breakdowns and squabbles over entitlement to a share of an estate are common and wholly avoidable. Nadine Wealands explains...More
Financial & Legal
Understanding the role of an executor
Naomi Liston of national law firm, Roythornes Solicitors, outlines an executor’s role, their responsibilities and duties when it comes to...More
Financial & Legal
What is Deprivation of Liberty?
In this guide, Sophie Maloney, Solicitor at the national law firm Stephensons, explains what deprivation of liberty means, what should...More
Financial & Legal
When deputy meets executor: Supporting people in court who lack mental capacity
In short, a deputy can make decisions for someone in court who lacks capacity. But what should happen to the deputy’s role on the death...More
Financial & Legal
How can I protect my assets long-term when a writing a will?
It is impossible to predict what circumstances your surviving spouse or other relatives may find themselves in one, five or ten years...More
Financial & Legal
Is the bank of grandma and grandad the future of financing property?
It is satisfying to be able to help grandchildren with university fees or housing deposits, but you must get your estate in order first...More
Funeral & Memorial
How attitudes to funerals are changing
Our attitudes to funerals are changing but is the funeral industry keeping pace with our needs? More
Financial & Legal
Writing and maintaining your Will
Writing a Will is pointless unless you actively maintain it. Here are some points to consider when writing or altering your Will. More
Featured articles
Creating a death plan - why is it necessary?
A death plan allows you to relieve the burden of decision making from the shoulders of those you love and creates the opportunity for a peaceful end of life. More
Dealing with Alzheimer’s – from the diagnosis to behavioural changes
Mary Jordan explains the first steps that should be taken after receiving an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. More
What are the benefits of a prepaid funeral plan?
A prepaid funeral plan can protect your family from the shock cost and distress of arranging an 'at need' funeral. We take a look at why it is a product we should all consider. More
Understanding Lasting Power of Attorney
Preparing for others to manage your finances should you no longer be able to take care of your own affairs More
Dealing with the sudden loss of a child or grandchild
The loss of a child can leave you feeling like all is lost but as Dr Stella Compton-Dickinson explains there is support that can help bring meaning and purpose back into your life. More
From our blog
Planning for life and death is the new normal
Covid-19 continues to have a massive impact on the global economy and has shown us just how fragile our lives are. Tony Page weighs age,...More
Three quarters of over 50s to opt for environmentally friendly funeral
Women are at the forefront of a mentality shift that sees 75% of over 50s say they favour environmentaly friendly or natural over a...More
The only cure for grief is to grieve
Watching a television news report of serious flooding recently I was concerned to hear the way in which a priest described people’s...More
The new rules of bereavement
The omnipresence of social media and digital communication tools have forced us to re-evaluate how we process previously private matters...More
Can buildings improve the way we die?
Matt Bowskill asks how can hospice design give people a more comfortable, cared-for end of life experience? More
The five stages of grief don't come in fixed steps – everyone feels differently
The supposed stages of grief may be better understood as states of grief: recognisable experiences that rise to the surface in...More
Give generously to help escape inheritance tax
New figures show that families who lost a loved one paid a record £5.2bn in inheritance last year. Wills and probate expert Jill Rushton...More
Death: why children should be taught about it in school
Creating transparency through education about death, dying and the normalisation of mortality can help bridge generational gaps and help...More
Breaking bad news
How do you tell someone that they’re seriously ill, or even dying? Chrissie Giles explores how doctors learn and how they deal with the...More
Pompeii should teach us to celebrate people's lives, not mock their death
Ellen Finn argues that the discovery of an ancient skeleton in Pompeii should prompt us to reflect on our modern attitudes to death,...More
What does a good death look like when you're really old and ready to go?
Naomi Richards, Lecturer in Social Science (End of Life Studies) at the University of Glasgow considers the ethical dilemmas at the...More
Funeral plan investments 400% better value than a cash ISA
Pre paid funeral plans offer a sensible investment given the price rises since 2011 but not all products are the same. Here are some tips...More
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth: lifetime inheritance tax exemptions
Robert Webb, associate at Roythornes Solicitors, highlights steps that can be taken to reduce your IHT liability in a straight forward...More
The dead and dying have been ignored by politicians for too long
Kate Woodthorpe says disorganised or under-resourced end of life care, lack of support for families and issues with funeral costs should...More
Britain’s patient outlaws
Medical cannabis is legal in places as diverse as Canada, Uruguay, Israel and Jamaica. But could legalisation work in the UK? Katharine...More
End of life: why doctors need to improve the way we discuss assisted dying
Assisted dying can be a divisive and polarising subject. But there is one aspect on which most people probably agree – the need to...More
Cancer treatment in women
Dr Stella Compton-Dickinson says minfulness is a powerful tool in helping come to terms with a potentially terminal illness and our...More
In your darkest times, you wonder if any good is going to come from what you went through
Pam Craige, a 60-year-old project coordinator from Cheshire, lost her husband Bill to heart failure in August 2013. Pam was one of more...More
Dying people help others make end-of-life decisions
An innovative new publication from Compassion in Dying uses the authentic voices of dying people to empower others to make informed...More
Live long, die green and leave a biodegradable corpse
Robert John Young looks at increasing awareness of and demand for green or eco funerals - including re-usable plots and a carbon neutral...More
Downloads
Care home check list
Choosing a care home? Use this downloadable check list to score the services of the care homes you visit before making a decision.
My funeral wishes
This fill-out-and-keep downloadable template can help you share your funeral wishes with your nearest and dearest and ensure you have the send off you deserve.
Advance decisions
Have you considered writing an advance decision (or Living Will)? This template can help you outline your care preferences to share with your loved ones.
Writing a death plan
A death plan allows you to relieve the burden of decision making from the shoulders of those you love and creates the opportunity for a peaceful end of life.
