Estate Planning Checklist UK: 10 Steps to Get Your Affairs in Order (2026)

Your will is the foundation of your estate plan. It specifies who inherits your assets, who acts as your executor, and — if you have children under 18 — who becomes their guardian if you die. Without a valid will, the intestacy rules decide who inherits, which may not reflect your wishes (particularly if you are unmarried, have stepchildren, or want to leave anything to a charity).

A Lasting Power of Attorney for Property & Financial Affairs allows your chosen attorney to manage your bank accounts, pay bills, sell property, and handle investments — if you lose mental capacity due to illness, stroke, or dementia. Without one, even your spouse cannot legally access solely-held accounts. Registration takes 20 weeks; apply now, not when it is too late.

A Health & Welfare LPA allows your attorney to make medical and care decisions for you — where you live, what treatment you receive, and what happens at end of life. It can only be used when you lack mental capacity and must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it is needed. This is separate from and in addition to your Property & Financial Affairs LPA.

A letter of wishes is a non-binding companion to your will. It guides your executor and trustees on: how you would like personal possessions divided, messages you want passed to specific people, how trustees should exercise discretion over any trust, and your funeral preferences. It can be updated freely without legal formality — unlike your will, which requires witnesses.

Make a list of your digital accounts — email, social media, cloud storage, crypto wallets, online banking, and subscription services. Note what you want done with each (deleted, memorialised, or passed on) and where login details can be found. Do NOT put passwords in your will (a public document). A digital asset inventory stored securely with your letter of wishes is the right approach.

Your pension does not automatically pass under your will — it is paid at the discretion of the pension trustees, guided by your 'expression of wishes' or 'nomination of beneficiaries' form. Check that your nominations are up to date with every pension you hold. Outdated nominations (listing an ex-spouse, deceased parent, or missing a new child) are one of the most common estate planning mistakes.

Like pensions, many life insurance policies pay to a nominated beneficiary — not via your will. If your policy is written in trust, it avoids inheritance tax and probate delays. If it is not in trust, the payout forms part of your estate and may be subject to 40% IHT above the nil-rate band. Contact your insurer to check and update nominations, and to confirm whether the policy is written in trust.

The inheritance tax nil-rate band is £325,000 per person (frozen until 2030). Married couples and civil partners can transfer unused nil-rate band, giving a potential combined allowance of up to £1 million (including the residence nil-rate band). From April 2027, inherited pension pots will also be included in the estate for IHT purposes. Review your estate value against the current thresholds and consider whether gifts, trusts, or charitable bequests are appropriate.

Record your funeral preferences — burial or cremation, type of service, music, readings, flowers, and any other personal touches. A funeral wishes plan is not legally binding, but it removes the burden of guessing from your family at the worst possible time. Keep it with your will so your executor can find it immediately.

Your executor is the person who administers your estate after your death. Tell them they are your executor, where your original will is stored, and where to find your letter of wishes, LPAs, and funeral wishes plan. Store originals somewhere fire- and flood-safe. Review your whole estate plan every five years or when your circumstances change significantly.