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I CUTHEROEADVERTISER&TIMES


www.clitherooadvertiser.co.uk Thursday, April 23,2015 Thursday,April23,2015 www.clilheroeadvertiser.co.uk CUTHEROEADVERTISER&TIMES I COPING WITH BEREAVEMENT r ( I I . ) I , Future thoughts.. h 1-


Being prepared-both financially and factually-foryour own death is an essential part of life,.Here are six simple steps you should take...


funeral “This may seem a sombre and depressing thing to do but the


1. Think about your


ISIS firststeptohelpingyourfamily, and also ensuring your wishes for your funeral are followed, is to writethemdown,”says Execu­ tive Director of Red Apple Law (www.myredapplelaw.com), An: gie Wilson. “It may be easier to start by


thinking about what you don’t want - maybe even write this down as this provides some guidance and reassurance to your loved ones that they won’t choose something you wouldn’t have wanted. “Then think about what you


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wouldlike.Flowersordonations to charity perhaps? If flowers, which type? Ifdonations, which charity? “What kind of service would


you like? Ensure you talk through the individual parts of the ceremony with your loved ones. “If you don’t feel the tradi­


tional or religious options are for you, there are how plenty of other options, from a Green Bur­ ial at a natural burial ground to a non-religious ceremony, often performed by a celebrant, able to conduct your ceremony the way you decide you would like it to be. “What about transport to


the ceremony? How would you like to travel, traditional hearse, horse-drawn carriage? Maybe even a motorbike side car? These are all possible, along with a branded coffin if that takes your fancy? Don’t forget about the music you would like played during the ceremony either. “The most important thing is


to make sure you’re aware of all the choices that are available to you... and that someone knows what your choices are.” ^


2. Start saving now “Dying is actually afairly expen­


sive business,” says Angie, “And even die most simple of funerals can cost thousands of pounds. “So what can you do about


this? The short answer is not much but you can be aware of it and start planning now. There


. are a few options, from putting money into a high interest sav-' ings account, to a ‘later years’- type life insurance plan or a pre­ paid funeral plan. “Although any steps you may


have taken along these lines will help, you must be aware of any shortfalls. With the sharp rises seen.year-on-year,howcanyou possibly knowhowmuchtosave and for how long? How much is enough? “If you have a pre-paid fu­


neral plan you’re frilly covered though, aren’t you? Sadly, not necessarily - i f you have pur-


chased a pre-paid funeral plan, you may have paid for this in one go, you may have paid a deposit and be paying monthly instal­ ments for a set period of time or you may be paying subscription style payments. “Regardless of how you are


paying, I urge you to check one thing - how much of your dis­ bursements, such as doctor's certificates, flowers, newspa­ per notices etc, are included/ covered by your plan? “There are a couple of pro­


viders of pre-paid funeral plans who do include major disburse? ments, like cars and crematoria fees, but the majority of provid­ ers include a specific amount in thehopethatthiswillcaveryour disbursements - currently this figure is usually around; £Sgo- £1200, although it variesgreatly from one provider toanother. “If, whenyour funeral isheld.


there is a disbursement shortfall - your Estate (everything you leave when you die) will hope­ fully cover it. But - and there is a but - firstly, your Estate may not allowyour family the money to pay the shortfall initially (as a Grant of Representation may be required) so often your family and loved ones have to make up theshortfall in thefirst instance."


3. Ensure you’re insured


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“We've all seen the adverts and fc ' ..- ■/. i ~ ***'r


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“YOUMAYTHINK ‘BUCKET LISTS’


AREONLYFORTHE RICHANDFAMOUS ORTHOSEWITH


tRMINAL ILLNESSES, JUT IN FACT THEY ARE ISINGTOBECOMEA SITOFANEWCRAZE”


given fleeting thoughts around ‘what if’ and many of us have lifeinsurancein place,so we’re ok,right?,"says Angie. “Maybesobut when was the


last timeyou checked the suita­ bility ofyour policy or policies? Ifyour circumstanc­ es have changed and you haven't in­ formed your insur­ ance provider, you couldwellbepaying


monthly for some- gj thing that wouldn’t g actually pay out B to your loved ones |


should you pass away! “You owe it to


yourself to dig g the policy out and |


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^


check through it, especially the exclu­ sions section, as well as what your provider deems ‘a change of circumstances’ to include?”


Z: ■ '


passwords “Ok, so who knows your pass­ word for Facebook, Amazon (including your Kindle ac­ count), Twitter, Snapchat, your internet banking, your TV subscription accounts andjust about everything else you sign into online - other than you?,” asks Angie. “What jiappens if no one


4. Pass on your


knows how to access any of your accounts after you’ve passed away? The answer is an administrative, cumbersome nightmare and all this at the worst possible time for your family to be dealing with it! “In order to work towards


I p S !


your hard-earned cash not be­ coming part of a forgotten ac­ count, what can you do? You could make a list or file of im­ portant passwords, accounts and details and entrust them


an appearance by the end of 2015 is a ‘digital asset vault’, es­ sentially a digital filing cabi­ net where you can store pass­ words, important documents and other sensitive pieces of information all together, in one place. It gives you the abil­ ity to list and log your assets (accounts, property, member­ ships etc.) to create your own Asset Register. “You then appoint 2-4 trust­


ed people with whom you can share this encrypted password with either during your life­ time or only when you choose for them to have it. “Ifyou do come across one


of these ‘digital asset vaults’, make sure you check its secu­ rity capabilities, which should be at least ‘bank level’, ‘military grade! where possible.”


5. Where there’s a


Will... “How many people have sug- gestedyou should make a Will? Probably many people over the


to someone but there are a lot ofwhatifs-whatiftheydiebe- fore you, what if they lose’ your sensitive information? What ifyou close accounts and open newones without updating the information they have? “One solution making quite


years, but in my experience people leave it around toyears before actually getting a Will made,” says Angie. “Essentially, until your


Will is signed and your signa­ ture has been witnessed (this is termed the attestation of the Will) your Will is


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..... i


^


1 simply a piece I of paper, upon I which your wish­ es are written - I what goes where,


I in what share, to | whom etc. You I name those you I would like to care for any children I you may have un-


I der 18 years of age I (guardians) and fi- I nallyyou name the * people you trust


to deal with everything you own and follow the wishes in your Will (your Executors). “Once you are happy with


everything written/typed on your. Will, you sign it in the presence of two independent witnesses. Your witnesses don’t have to read your Will or know its contents but it is advisable to tell themitisaWill they are wit- nessingyoursignatureon.Your witnesses then have no further involvement.Itisessential to re­ member thatyou andyour wit­ nesses MUST ALL be present as ALL sign, you first, then your two witnesses after you. “Onceyouhavesignedyour Will and had your signatures


. witnessed correctly - your ‘piece of paper’ then becomes your Last Will and Testament, one of if not ‘the’ most impor­ tant and valuable document you will ever own, it cannot be reproduced and must be pre­ sented in pristine condition, by your Executors after you have passed away.


“Why bother? Well, you


could leave it and let Intes­ tacy kick in - this is the set of rulesgoverningwhathappens to your Estate (everythingyou own) if you die without a val­ id Will in place. This may suit you and your circumstances but unmarried partners will get nothing, you won’t get to choose who you would like to care for your children or who you would like to deal with your affairs after you have gone. Worst of all, ifyou have no relatives, your Estate goes to the Crown! Ifyou are in this


■ position and would prefer all you have to go to charity, you need to make a Will! ”


6. Make a list for life “You may think ‘bucket lists’


are only for the rich and famous or those with termi­ nal illnesses, but in fact they are rising to become a bit of a new craze,” says Angie. “I guess the satisfaction of tick­ ing off some of those ‘before I die I will...’ items has to give a feel good factor, plus, think of how much more you achieve when you have a written goal and a box to tick? “You could start with the


small stuff, get the family in­ volved - you may learn some­


thing very new about each other! Have you ever seen the sun rise or set at your lo­ cal beauty spot, for example? Howmucheffortwouldittake to make this happen? . “Compile a list of all the


‘must do’ things, places to visit, things to see, and new experiences to try. “Whether your list is


full of the small stuff or built with hefty challenges, it’s yours and all you need to do to get started is write it down.”


ABOUT ANGIE.: Angie Wilson is the Execu-


; tiveDirectorofRedAp- . pie Law which provides iegal services online, over the phone or in person throughouttheUK(www.


.myredapplelaw.com). Angie has 15 years experi- enceintheLegalServices industry and is passionate aboutworkingtowards better accessibilitytoour legalsystemforall.


7 - K 57


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BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT WHEN YOU MOST NEED IT


The loss of someone close brings a very painful time which no two people experience the same way.


L ' / J h Bereavement Support Groups.


Informal meetings are held monthly at locations around the region. The meetings are free and open to anyone who has lost someone close; they offer you the opportunity to speak freely about your experience and to listen to people who have suffered too.They are friendly and informal groups that tackle practical and emotional needs where you can drop in and out whenever you choose.


For, further details-contact Pam Davies on 01200 443045 Clitheroe Funeral Service 110-12 Whalley Rd., Clitheroe, BB7 1 AW


: : h


Our completely bespoke personal bereavement se rvice ensures that you and your loved ones' wishes are reflected perfectly


A complete service


• Ministers & Celebrants • Disability Vehicle •. Monumental Masonry • Bereavement Counselling -


• Mercedes.Fleet • Eco - Funerals1 ' ■1 \ • Horse-drawn Hearse • Haven Funeral Plans


Bertwistle's Funeral Services


Funeral Directors Geoff Newton and


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