Planning for retirement often brings practical questions to the surface. You may be reviewing your pension, thinking about your home, helping adult children, or simply wanting to make sure everything is organised properly.
Two documents that often sit at the centre of later-life planning are your will and your Lasting Powers of Attorney, often called LPAs.
They do different jobs, but they work well together. Your will explains what should happen after your death. Your LPAs appoint trusted people to help make decisions during your lifetime if you ever need support.
For families across Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and wider Dorset, getting these documents in place can make future decisions clearer and reduce stress for loved ones.
This article gives general information for England and Wales. It is not tailored legal advice. The right approach depends on your individual circumstances.
Why retirement is a good time to review your will
Many people make a will earlier in life and then leave it untouched for years. By the time retirement approaches, family, property and financial circumstances may look quite different.
You may have bought or sold property, welcomed grandchildren, remarried, separated, lost someone close to you, or changed your mind about who should deal with your estate.
A will allows you to record who should benefit from your estate and who should be responsible for carrying out your wishes. Those people are called executors.
Without a valid will, your estate is dealt with under the intestacy rules. These rules may not reflect what you would have chosen, especially where there are unmarried partners, blended families, stepchildren or more complex family circumstances.
What should you check in your will before retirement?
A useful review does not need to feel complicated. The aim is to check whether your current will still reflects your wishes and your real-life situation.
Key questions include:
- Are your chosen executors still the right people?
- Are your beneficiaries still correct?
- Have you bought, sold or changed how you own property?
- Have there been changes in your family, such as marriage, divorce, grandchildren or a second relationship?
- Does your will deal clearly with personal possessions or gifts?
- Would your instructions be easy for your family to understand?
For couples, this is also a good time to consider whether mirror wills are still suitable. They can be useful in many straightforward situations, but they may not be enough where there are children from previous relationships, property ownership issues or specific wishes about what happens after the first death.
What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?
A Lasting Power of Attorney is a document that lets you appoint one or more trusted people to make decisions for you if you cannot make those decisions yourself, or if you need help with certain decisions.
The person making the LPA is called the donor. The people appointed are called attorneys. In this context, attorney means the person you choose under your LPA. It does not mean solicitor or lawyer.
There are two main types of LPA in England and Wales.
Property and Financial Affairs LPA
This can cover decisions about money and property. For example, managing bank accounts, paying bills, collecting pensions or dealing with property matters.
Health and Welfare LPA
This can cover decisions about health, care, medical treatment and where you live. It is usually used only if you no longer have the mental capacity to make the relevant decision yourself.
Many people choose to put both types in place, but this depends on individual circumstances and preferences.
Why wills and LPAs work together
Your will and your LPAs cover different stages of life.
Your LPA helps during your lifetime. Your will deals with your estate after death.
Having one does not replace the need for the other. A will does not allow someone to manage your finances or care decisions while you are alive. An LPA does not decide who inherits your estate after your death.
Together, they can create a clearer plan for you and your family.
Questions to ask before appointing attorneys
Choosing attorneys is one of the most important decisions in the LPA process. It should be someone you trust, but trust is not the only factor.
Before choosing an attorney, ask yourself:
- Do they understand your wishes and values?
- Are they practical, reliable and organised?
- Could they manage difficult conversations calmly?
- Would they work well with any other attorneys?
- Are they willing to take on the responsibility?
You may also want to think about replacement attorneys, in case your first choice cannot act when needed.
Common later-life planning situations
Retirement planning often raises questions that go beyond a simple will.
For example:
- A couple may want to review mirror wills after downsizing.
- A parent may want to make fair provision for children from different relationships.
- Someone living alone may want to appoint trusted relatives or friends as attorneys.
- A homeowner may want to understand how property ownership affects their will.
- A family may want to discuss planning for later-life care costs in a careful, realistic way.
Planning for later-life care costs depends on individual circumstances. It should never be treated as a guaranteed way to protect assets or avoid fees. The sensible starting point is to understand your options and get tailored advice where appropriate, including regulated financial advice if needed.
A simple process can make planning easier
Many people put off making or reviewing documents because they expect the process to feel difficult. It does not have to be that way.
At Brooks Wills, the aim is to keep the process clear, calm and practical. We take time to understand your circumstances, explain your options in plain English, prepare the documents carefully and guide you through the signing and registration steps where needed.
That means you know what happens next at each stage, without pressure or jargon.
When should you review your arrangements?
It is sensible to review your will and wider planning arrangements after any major life change.
This may include:
- Retirement
- Marriage or divorce
- A new partner or second marriage
- Buying, selling or changing ownership of property
- The birth of children or grandchildren
- A change in health
- A death in the family
- Changes to your financial position
A regular review can help ensure your documents still reflect your wishes.
Local support across Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch
Brooks Wills supports individuals, couples and families across Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and wider Dorset with wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and later-life planning.
We explain each step clearly, so you can make informed decisions and feel confident about what happens next.
Ready to get things organised?
If you are approaching retirement, recently retired, or simply want to make sure your will and LPAs are in order, Brooks Wills can help you talk it through calmly and clearly.
Book a consultation, call us to talk it through, or message us to arrange a chat.
FAQs
Do I need both a will and a Lasting Power of Attorney?
They do different jobs. A will deals with your estate after death. An LPA allows chosen people to help make decisions during your lifetime if needed. Many people choose to have both.
What are the two types of Lasting Power of Attorney?
The two types are Property and Financial Affairs, and Health and Welfare. One deals mainly with money and property. The other deals with health and care decisions.
Can I make a will and LPAs at the same time?
Yes. Many people choose to arrange them together as part of later-life planning, especially when approaching retirement or reviewing family arrangements.
Who should I choose as my attorney?
Choose someone you trust who is practical, reliable and willing to act. You can appoint more than one attorney and may also consider replacement attorneys.
What happens if I die without a will?
If you die without a valid will, your estate is distributed under the intestacy rules. These rules may not reflect your wishes, particularly in more complex family situations.
Does Brooks Wills help clients outside Poole?
Yes. Brooks Wills works with clients across Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and wider Dorset, and may also be able to help further afield where remote support is suitable.
