Planning lessons: what the health crisis taught us about leaving a legacy
The 2020 pandemic did not only put the health system to the test; it also exposed something we see very closely at law firms: the lack of basic legal planning in thousands of families. Wills that had never been made, insufficient powers of attorney and inaccessible digital assets added an unnecessary burden at a time of great emotional vulnerability.
Lessons we should not forget
- A will as a tool for peace: many people put off making a will out of “superstition” or because it never feels urgent. Yet a clear will is the difference between a smooth succession and long, expensive court proceedings full of conflict.
- The importance of lasting powers of attorney: we learned that temporary incapacity can be as paralysing as death. Having the right powers in place allows someone you trust to manage your bank accounts and assets without waiting for court proceedings on your capacity.
- Digital assets are no longer optional: online accounts, assets in the cloud and cryptocurrencies are part of our lives. If the heirs do not know they exist, or cannot access them, those assets are simply lost.
- Keeping essential information in one place: one of the biggest problems was the “treasure hunt” for documents. Life insurance policies, title deeds and investments should be located and organised to avoid administrative paralysis.
A final thought: the main legal lesson of recent years is simple. A family’s peace of mind does not depend only on how much has been saved, but on how it is organised. Planning is not alarmism; it is making sure uncertainty does not create problems for the people we love most.
