Paul Welsh – Senior Adviser
Bereavement is one of the hardest experiences any family will face. Alongside the emotional shock of losing someone, there is often an immediate wave of practical decisions, urgent administration and uncertainty about what to do next.
In this article Paul reflects on what practical support we can offer at such a challenging time and shares a practical guide to help those dealing with the loss of a loved one.
Next week is Dying Matters Awareness Week 2026 with the theme “Let’s talk about Death and Dying”. To support the initiative I will be joining the panel at the Dying Matters – Grief in the Workplace Conference in Liverpool and I will share the findings from that conference in a follow up article.
That wider national conversation is a timely reminder of something we see consistently in our work: while no amount of planning can remove grief, good preparation can significantly reduce the practical burden placed on those left behind.
Conversations about death are not abstract or rare. In practice, they are part of the planning work we do with clients every day – helping families prepare so that, when the time comes, they are not left trying to make complex financial and legal decisions under emotional strain.
Over the past 12 months, we have experienced bereavement within our own client family, having lost six long-standing clients. That loss has been deeply felt by their families, and by us as a firm. These were individuals we worked with for many years – people who trusted us, helped shape our business over time, and were very much part of the relationships and culture we value today. It is a reminder of both the fragility of life and the importance of being prepared.
While no planning can take away grief, it can make the practical side of things more manageable.
What follows is a structured approach we use to help clients understand what typically needs to be addressed
In the very early stages, families are often unsure where to start. There is a natural focus on informing close relatives and arranging immediate support, but there are also practical steps that can reduce administrative pressure.
One of the most useful early actions is registering the death and using the government’s Tell Us Once service. This allows multiple government departments to be notified in one step, helping reduce repetition and paperwork at a difficult time.
To use this service effectively, families will usually need key information to hand, such as the deceased’s:
Having this information accessible in advance can make a noticeable difference in reducing stress during the first few days.
Once the immediate steps have been taken, attention often turns to legal and financial arrangements. At this stage, clarity is key – particularly around whether there is a Will, who the executors are, and what responsibilities they will need to take on.
We encourage clients to ensure:
Clarity around “where things are” can significantly reduce stress and uncertainty.
In the days and weeks after a death, families often need access to money for funeral costs, household bills and short-term expenses, while other assets may be temporarily inaccessible.
So planning ahead can help by:
Probate can take some months in more complex estates so access to cash gives huge reassurance that such delays won’t cause even more stress and gives time to pause.
This stage is about reducing pressure, rather than making complex financial decisions.
As attention moves to longer-term financial arrangements – pensions and investments are reviewed.
To note – pensions sit outside the Will, meaning beneficiary nominations are important. ISA’s also have a special tax treatment and can be inherited by a surviving spouse and retain their tax free status.
We support clients in:
This helps avoid uncertainty at a time when clarity is most needed.
One of the most common challenges families face is simply locating information. Modern life means key details are often spread across paper and digital systems.
Practical preparation can include:
This is often one of the most valuable areas of planning for those left behind and our secure portal is a perfect place to securely store such information.
In many cases we act across generations in our clients families so already have an ongoing relationship with the wider family but we would encourage all clients to share our contact details with their next of kin so they can contact us directly for help.
Funeral arrangements are often made quickly and under emotional pressure, so having guidance in place can be helpful.
This might include:
Even simple written guidance can ease decision-making at a difficult time and we can help incorporate this in a clients letter of wishes.
After a bereavement, families often find themselves managing multiple conversations at once – with banks, solicitors, registrars and service providers.
Part of planning is ensuring they are not doing this alone and we are there to help with:
Our role when it matters most
In practice, our role extends beyond planning. When a death occurs, we support families by helping bring structure to what can otherwise feel like a confusing and fragmented process.
That often involves coordinating between professionals, explaining what needs to happen and in what order, and helping families understand decisions without pressure or urgency. Just as importantly, it means being a consistent point of contact – someone who already understands the family, the plan that was in place, and what matters most to them.
In moments of loss and uncertainty, that continuity can make a real difference. It allows families to focus on what is important to them, while knowing the practical and financial aspects are being managed with care, clarity and experience.
That responsibility sits at the heart of how we work with clients, not just at the point of planning, but throughout the moments in life when support is needed most
“Wherever life takes you we will be there”.
If you think this article is useful do let us know and feel free to share it with others who may value a review of their planning and if this triggers any concerns about your own affairs do please get in touch.