How to get financial affairs in orders

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DH is horizontal about this and happy to continue as casual as he is disinterested in all financial matters.

Can anyone recommend a website/system/tips etc. please? We have a will and a set of folders called Bank, Health etc-not necessarily totally up to date but in reasonably good order. I’m thinking living POA, letter of intent, a letter/folder with essential information etc.

We are early 60s with children. Without being morbid I want our affairs in order while we are fit and well. If we were run over by a bus in the morning, our kids would not be easily able to access all the information they might need. But I feel a bit overwhelmed about it and don’t know where to start.

Any ideas much appreciated, thank you.

We are late 60s . POA in place and wills...a bit complicated as its 2nd marriages and I own the house.
Funeral wishes done ( direct cremation) and dcs know our intentions.

Martin Lewis is the man to read on this topic: Death checklist, including funeral plans, living wills – MSE

You need POA for each other for both finance and health/welfare. You set them up now, but don't activate unless needed. If you have trustworthy children, they can also be named as attorneys.
It's fairly straightforward to do yourselves - I found the hardest thing was signing, with witnesses in all the right places! But the form itself is quite easy.

Do you have any wishes for your funerals? It's worth documenting these too. Keep with your wills

Do your children know where to find your wills?

if one of you becomes incapacitated does the other know how to access your joint money?

Keep a "dying tidily" log with all the important information necessary for each of you to access accounts, mortgages, utilities etc. Record on here also previous addresses, insurance companies, passport and driving licence numbers etc. Pensions, ISAs too.

Put utilities and insurance in both names where you can.

Please please arrange POA, and put utilities etc into joint names

What's the reason for putting utilities in joint names?

In the event of a death Its a lot easier to speak to them and just get an account changed into the single persons name, rather than having to open up a new account.

Ah OK - thanks.

@Jopo12 thank you for yr detailed reply, much appreciated. Going to check out Martin Lewis now.

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