Well, we can't give any spiritual answers but clients who attended our event last week will now know the steps to simplify their affairs and how their estate will be handled. It was a really useful session for anyone who may be an Executor. We don't record our events as we like to encourage participation, but we have a summary of what was discussed.

• Administrative Process After Death: Ruth explained the administrative process after someone dies, including registering the death, notifying government agencies, and informing private companies. She highlighted the importance of gathering necessary documents and using the "Tell Us Once" service.

• Registering Death: Ruth detailed the process of registering a death, which involves obtaining a letter from the doctor and taking it to the registrar within five days. She emphasized the importance of gathering necessary documents such as the deceased's birth certificate, passport, medical card, proof of address, and any previous names.
• Tell Us Once: Ruth explained the "Tell Us Once" service, which allows individuals to notify multiple government agencies, such as HMRC, the Department for Work and Pensions, and the DVLA, using a single code provided by the registrar. This service helps streamline the notification process and saves time.
• Informing Companies: Ruth highlighted the need to inform private companies, such as banks, building societies, and utility companies, about the death. She mentioned that some notifications are more urgent than others and should be prioritized accordingly.

• Funeral Arrangements: Ruth discussed the importance of planning funeral arrangements and considering the deceased's wishes. She shared tips from a celebrant and emphasized the need to communicate preferences to family members.

• Planning Funerals: Ruth emphasized the importance of planning funeral arrangements and considering the deceased's wishes. She mentioned that some people prefer to leave detailed instructions, while others believe the funeral should be for the living to decide.
• Celebrant Tips: Ruth shared tips from a celebrant who specialises in non-conformist funerals. These tips included considering various aspects such as music, poems, hymns, and even unique burial options like being buried in a garden or a humanist burial ground.
• Communicating Preferences: Ruth stressed the importance of communicating funeral preferences to family members to avoid confusion and ensure that the deceased's wishes are respected. She provided examples of how detailed instructions can help guide the planning process.

• Bereavement Benefits: Ruth mentioned the potential for bereavement benefits, especially if the deceased had not accessed their state pension. She explained the importance of checking eligibility for these benefits.

• Inheritance Tax and Probate: Ruth explained the process of checking for inheritance tax liability and obtaining probate. She advised seeking guidance from a solicitor and mentioned that FMB assists clients with probate valuations.

• Inheritance Tax: Ruth discussed the importance of checking for inheritance tax liability and obtaining a valuation of the estate's assets and liabilities. She mentioned that a solicitor can help with this process and that FMB assists clients with probate valuations for assets they manage.
• Probate Process: Ruth explained that obtaining probate involves applying for a probate certificate, which can take 12 weeks but up to 2 years in complex cases according to the government website. She advised seeking guidance from a solicitor to navigate the process and mentioned that FMB provides probate valuation services as part of their client support.
• Solicitor Guidance: Ruth recommended seeking guidance from a solicitor for the probate process, especially for complex estates. She noted that some solicitors offer to handle all aspects of probate, including contacting banks and financial institutions, but this service comes with additional costs.

• Simplifying Finances: Ruth and Richard discussed the importance of simplifying finances, including consolidating investments and ensuring pension nominations are up to date. They emphasized the benefits of keeping financial matters straightforward for easier management.

• Consolidating Investments: Ruth and Richard emphasized the importance of consolidating investments to simplify financial management. They mentioned that having multiple investments can complicate the probate process and recommended keeping financial matters straightforward.
• Pension Nominations: Ruth and Richard discussed the importance of ensuring pension nominations are up to date. They highlighted that outdated nominations can lead to complications and advised regularly reviewing and updating these details.
• Financial Simplicity: Ruth and Richard stressed the benefits of keeping financial matters simple, including using a platform for easy valuation and management of investments. They mentioned that simplifying finances can make the probate process more efficient and less stressful for the surviving family members.

• Valuing Property: Ruth highlighted the importance of accurately valuing property, as many clients may underestimate their home's worth. She recommended getting an estate agent's valuation to ensure accurate inheritance tax calculations.

• Gifting and Inheritance Tax Planning: Ruth and Richard discussed the importance of making gifts during one's lifetime to reduce inheritance tax liability. They emphasized the need for careful planning and record-keeping to ensure compliance with HMRC regulations.

• Lifetime Gifting: Ruth and Richard discussed the importance of making gifts during one's lifetime to reduce inheritance tax liability. They emphasized that careful planning and record-keeping are essential to ensure compliance with HMRC regulations.
• HMRC Compliance: Ruth and Richard highlighted the need to keep detailed records of gifts and surplus income to comply with HMRC regulations. They mentioned that FMB helps clients maintain these records during annual reviews.
• Cash Flow Modelling: Ruth mentioned that FMB uses cash flow modelling to help clients determine if making gifts will impact their retirement plans. This tool provides a clear picture of whether gifting is financially feasible without compromising the client's financial security.

• Involving Family in Planning: Ruth and Richard emphasised the benefits of involving family members in financial planning discussions. They shared examples of how including family can facilitate better communication and understanding of the deceased's wishes.

• Making sure wills are up to date and drafted in the right way: Most clients have a will but it’s best to review this from time to time to make sure it’s still appropriate. A well drafted will should stand the test of time. Again, always best to have a professional involved. Ruth considered the flowchart of what happens if you die intestate and how much longer this can take and how stressful it can be for those left behind.

• Useful Resources: Ruth shared useful resources, including the charity Cruise for bereavement counselling and Age UK's Life Book for recording important information. She highlighted the importance of keeping records to make the process easier for those left behind.

• Technology and Estate Management: Ruth discussed the role of technology in estate management, including the challenges of accessing online accounts and the benefits of using secure portals for document sharing. She emphasized the importance of planning for digital assets.

• Support for Surviving Spouse: Ruth mentioned that FMB provides support for surviving spouses, especially those who may not be confident in managing finances. She shared examples of clients who sought FMB's assistance to ensure their spouse would be supported after their death.

For clients in scotland the legal process is slightly different, you can find more information here...

Guide to dealing with a Deceased's Estate in Scotland | Scottish Courts

Follow-up tasks:
• Bereavement Resources: Send out the list of resources and notes discussed during the meeting to all participants. (Ruth)
• Life Book Resource: Share the Age UK Life Book resource with participants for recording important information. (Ruth)