Does Your Family Know Where To Find Your Will? Or Pension?
Thousands of people die each year without a will, as more than half of us don’t have one. But even for those who have written a will, there is a good chance your loved ones won’t know where to find it when you die.
Nearly half of all couples don’t know where their partner’s will is, according to research by Canada Life, and nearly 60% of us wouldn’t know how to locate our parents’ pension policies when they are gone. These two facts have the potential to leave millions of people at risk, facing unnecessary delays to probate, and even penalties at a time of bereavement. When it comes to siblings, nearly nine in 10 (87%) wouldn’t be able to locate their brother or sister’s will.
Pensions make up the second largest part of a household’s wealth, according to data from the Office for National Statistics, second only to the value of your property. Yet nearly two in five people (37%) in a relationship wouldn’t even know where to find their partner’s pension documents in the event of their death.
Why does this matter?
If these documents can’t be found when someone dies, it means executors or personal representatives face delays in getting the information they need to deal with probate efficiently, slowing everything down at a time when emotions are high.
Pensions will become part of the inheritance tax (IHT) net in 2027, and personal representatives of the deceased will be responsible for tracking down the policies. So, not knowing where to lay hands on these documents also increases the potential risk for penalties from HMRC, if an IHT bill isn’t paid on time.
However, these are just two of the important documents a partner or family member couldn’t find. Four in 10 people couldn’t find a partner’s life insurance policy, and almost half (47%) say they couldn’t find a partner’s debt or loan agreements.
What should people do to prevent these problems?
The easiest way to make sure everyone who needs them can find documents in the event of your death is to create a specific list explaining where everything is, and to tell the relevant people – your children, partner, trusted friend and so on – where to find that list. If you leave instructions about how to deal with all your assets when you die in a will, you will save your loved ones a lot of trouble.
Liz Hardie, Tax, Trusts and Estate Planning Specialist, Canada Life said: “It’s easy to put off conversations about where important documents are kept, but the consequences of not knowing can be serious, particularly as previous Canada Life research has shown that the most common problem encountered by executors of a will is tracking down policy documents.
“Whether it’s delays in accessing funds, missing out on benefits, or facing unexpected liabilities, families could be left in a difficult position simply because they didn’t have the right information at hand.
“Make time for the conversations that matter. Knowing where key documents are kept isn’t just about being prepared for the worst, it’s about making life easier for everyone, whatever the future holds.”
We can help you meet your obligations
If you want some help with making sure your affairs are in order and that your family will be able to find all the information they need when you’re no longer here, then please get in touch and we would be happy to give you the guidance you need.
