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LATEST NEWS & EVENTS Survey: People still not talking about wills and inheritance tax planning  People still find talking about issues like Lasting Power of Attorney, wills and inheritance tax planning "taboo", new research has shown. Two-thirds of people feel uncomfortable talking about dying and death, according to the study which was commissioned to mark Dying Matters Awareness Week. It reveals that just a third of people in the UK have talked with their partner about the type of funeral they would like or whether they have a will. The study also suggests few people are looking at creating a Lasting Power of Attorney, as just 18 per cent have discussed the kind of care they would want at the end of their lives. Eve Richardson, chief executive of the National Council for Palliative Care and the Dying Matters Coalition, said the research has found that many people "do all they can to avoid talking about dying". "It's encouraging that most people think talking about death is less of a taboo now than previously, but there is still a long way to go," she added. The research comes after BUPA director of UK care homes Oliver Thomas claimed in an interview with the Daily Telegraph that establishing Lasting Power of Attorney can be essential if someone succumbs to dementia or other mental illness. Jeremy Tucker of Lamport Bassitt commented: "The results of this survey do not come as a surprise. Starting a conversation about death and dying is not always an easy thing to do. However, without any discussion or indication of a person's intentions their wishes may well remain unfulfilled. Communication and openness on these areas can ensure that a persons affairs are organised as they had hoped." He continued: "Funeral wishes are something that we discuss with clients when helping them with their private legal affairs. Whilst a will can ensure that an individual's funeral and estate are dealt with in accordance with their wishes an appropriate Power of Attorney enables an individual's property and affairs to be managed and for health and welfare decisions to be made on their behalf during their lifetime. "Often, we find that when individuals start to discuss the issues surrounding their private legal affairs it is not as difficult as they first imagined." Posted by Georgina Price 
Related Articles: 17/5/2012 - Discussing death remains taboo as wills and inheritance tax planning suffers 11/5/2012 - Queen's Speech legal reforms welcomed 4/5/2012 - Create Lasting Power of Attorney before it's too late 2/5/2012 - Support for will writing regulation grows 25/4/2012 - Inheritance tax planning could net £450m a year in savings More Individual Legal Services News |
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