Later-life admin: wills, power of attorney and paperwork

Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.

A will, a power of attorney and one well-organised folder are the three pieces of paperwork that make the biggest difference to you and your family. These guides explain each one in plain English, along with what to do, and what help is available, when someone dies.

Why it is worth doing now

Without a will, the law decides who inherits, and it may not be who you would choose. An unmarried partner, for example, has no automatic right to inherit anywhere in the UK.
Without a power of attorney, nobody, not even a husband, wife or child, has an automatic right to manage your money or make decisions for you if you become unable to. Your family would have to apply to a court, which is slower and more expensive.
Without a list of what you have, the people sorting things out are left hunting through drawers for accounts and policies they did not know existed.

A sensible order to tackle it

Make or update your will. Review it after any big change: marriage, divorce, a death, a house move, grandchildren.
Set up powers of attorney while you are well. They can only be made while you have the mental capacity to understand them.
Put your paperwork in one place and tell someone you trust where it is.

Guides in this section

Making a will – why you need one, solicitor or will-writer or do-it-yourself, the witness rules and the free and low-cost schemes.
Lasting power of attorney – the two types in England and Wales, the fee and how long it takes, plus the Scottish and Northern Irish versions.
Registering a death – who does it, where, the time limits in each nation and the paperwork you come away with.
Tell Us Once – the free service that tells most government departments about a death in one go, and what to do in Northern Ireland.
Bereavement benefits – Bereavement Support Payment, inherited State Pension and help with funeral costs.
Organising your paperwork – how to build a "what my family will need" folder and how long to keep documents.

Related guides elsewhere on Grey Shopper

Funeral plans and over-50s life insurance, if you want to set money aside for a funeral.
Shopping for someone else, for the practical side of handling another person's money day to day.
Passwords made simple, so that your online accounts are secure but not locked away for ever.

Where to get advice

These guides are general information, not legal or financial advice. For your own situation:

A solicitor for wills, powers of attorney and estates. Ask for a fixed fee in writing before you start.
Citizens Advice for free guidance on wills, benefits and what to do after a death.
Age UK, Age Scotland, Age Cymru and Age NI for free factsheets and advice lines.
MoneyHelper for impartial money guidance, including what to do with money when someone dies.

Common questions

I do not own much. Do I still need a will?

It is still worthwhile. A will names who sorts things out, says who gets what, including sentimental items, and can record your funeral wishes. It also avoids uncertainty for a partner you are not married to.

Is my husband or wife automatically able to act for me?

No. A spouse can deal with accounts held in joint names, but has no automatic authority over accounts or property in your sole name, or over decisions about your care. That takes a power of attorney.

How much does it all cost?

Fees vary widely. Registering a lasting power of attorney in England and Wales has a set government fee, given in our guide. Wills can cost nothing through a charity scheme or several hundred pounds through a solicitor for more complicated arrangements. Always ask for a written quote.