Planning for the future is not only about what happens after death. It is also about protecting your independence, deciding who should receive your estate, recording your wishes and making sure trusted people can help if illness, injury or advancing age affects your ability to make decisions.
These practical guides explain lifetime planning law in England and Wales in plain English. Whether you are making a Will, considering a Lasting Power of Attorney, planning for future medical treatment or concerned about care home fees, choose the subject closest to your situation below.
Making a Will and planning your estate
Guidance on making a legally valid Will, deciding who should inherit, protecting digital assets and understanding the consequences of excluding a family member.
- Writing a valid Will in England and Wales: A clear legal guide
- Do I need a will under 40? A practical guide for young adults
- Digital assets in a Will: What they are and how to include them
- Can a parent disinherit a child?
Lasting Powers of Attorney and future decisions
Guidance on appointing trusted people to make decisions for you and recording your wishes about medical treatment in case you are unable to communicate them in the future.
- What is a Lasting Power of Attorney? A complete guide
- Living Wills and Advance Decisions (ADRT): Your guide to the law
Mental capacity and decision-making
Clear information about how mental capacity is assessed, who may carry out an assessment and what happens when somebody cannot make a particular decision for themselves.
Care home fees and protecting your home
Practical guidance on care funding, the treatment of property and savings, and the risks of giving assets away in an attempt to avoid future care costs.
