Unconventional Items To Include in Your Estate Planning

Estate planning is more than dividing up assets or writing a will; it’s an opportunity to think about what you’ll leave behind beyond just money. 

While you should address traditional elements like properties and bank accounts, unconventional items can be equally, if not more, important. 

Including these can provide clarity, comfort, and continuity for your loved ones. Continue reading to explore unconventional items to include in your estate planning.

Digital Assets

In an increasingly digital world, your online presence matters. These assets could be significant, from social media accounts to email, subscription services, and cloud storage. Estate planning should include a list of all your online accounts, usernames, and passwords. 

Document any digital content or financial assets, such as cryptocurrency. This step will make it simpler for your loved ones to access, manage, or delete your digital accounts as necessary.

Family Heirlooms

Family heirlooms carry sentimental value. Whether it’s a piece of jewelry, an antique clock, or a photo collection, specifying who inherits these items can prevent emotional disputes among family members. 

Be explicit in your instructions to avoid misunderstandings. Take the time to write down why these items are significant, as this will add emotional depth and meaning for the recipient.

Personal Stories and Values

Your estate doesn’t just have to be a list of assets—it can also be a way to leave a personal legacy. Consider including your life lessons, personal beliefs, or a collection of meaningful stories to pass down to future generations. 

Some people write letters to family members or record videos sharing advice. These gestures serve as a source of inspiration and connection for family members long after you’re gone.

Pet Care Plan

If you have pets, they’re almost certainly part of your family. Planning for their care in your estate is crucial to their well-being. 

Specify who will take responsibility for them after you’re gone and allocate funds for their care. Take the time to speak to the person ahead of time to confirm they’re willing and able to take on the responsibilities. 

Your furry friends deserve as much careful consideration as anyone else.

Charitable Giving Strategies

For many, leaving a positive impact on the world is important. Incorporate charitable giving strategies into your estate plan to leave a lasting legacy. 

You can name specific charities, create a charitable trust, or set up endowments to support causes you care deeply about. Thoughtful planning can amplify your values and make a meaningful impact for years to come.

End-of-Life Preferences

One of the most crucial components of any estate plan is outlining your end-of-life wishes. Include detailed guidance on healthcare decisions, living arrangements, and funeral preferences. 

These instructions help loved ones make decisions aligning with your values and beliefs, alleviating stress during an already challenging time.

Keep Your Estate Plan Updated

Life is always changing, and your estate plan should evolve right along with it. Regularly review and update your plan to reflect major life events, such as new family members, retirements, or moves. 

Keeping your plan updated will help you avoid complications and ensure your wishes are respected.

Estate planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Including these unconventional elements allows you to paint a full picture of the legacy you want to leave. 

Start the conversation today and create a heartfelt plan that goes far beyond finances. It’s your opportunity to provide clarity, comfort, and a lasting impact on the people and causes you care about most.

4 Things You Need to Include When Writing Your Will

No one really wants to contemplate his or her own mortality. At some point, though, any responsible person will decide to create a will so that his or her family will be taken care of after he or she is gone. If you are looking into creating a will, you’ll want to make sure that you take care of the issues below.

Immediate Concerns

Always start with the most immediate concerns. If you have children, make sure that you appoint someone to take care of them. If you have pets, include where you want them to go. 

If you have a business, make sure that someone is appointed to run it in your stead. While these may all sound like very basic decisions, they’re the issues with which your family will first have to grapple when you are gone.

Your Funeral

Don’t forget to pay attention to your funeral in your will. If possible, go ahead and specify the funeral home and crematorium that you wish to use. If you have any special wishes, go ahead and include them—while they may not all be honored due to specific laws and regulations, it’s always good for your family to know what you would have wanted.

Special Provisions

You’ll also want to make sure that you get anything special filed away as soon as possible. If you want to leave the bulk of your estate to a charity, you’re going to want to get it in writing early so that no one will challenge your decision. 



If there’s a special item that you want to go to a specific family member, you also need to include that. Remember, there comes a point at which it really is too late to get these special items included.

Special Circumstances

Finally, make sure that you take care of any special circumstances regarding your estate when you make a will. If you have an unusual family situation, make sure that you specify whether an individual is included or if he or she is being purposefully left out.

If you know that your death might lead to specific issues in your business, make sure that you have some method of dealing with those issues included in your will. Do what you can to ensure that confusion isn’t left in your wake.

Always make sure that your will takes care of immediate issues, list your wishes for your funeral planning, and handles any special situations and provisions that might impact your loved ones. The more information you put in the document, the fewer issues with which your family will have to deal.

Why Writing A Will Is Essential For Business Owners

Most people tend to be lulled into the false sense of security that they don't even have to think about a will yet, because they’re nowhere near the age where they deem its relevant to them. 

As a business owner deciding what would happen to your positions if you passed away isn’t exactly the most pleasant task, but as the responsible owner it is most definitely something that needs to be done as it could cause great complications and unneeded stress to your loved ones. 

A will simply ensures that your assets are shared between the right people, rather than them ending up in the wrong hands or let to battle over – something that you obviously won’t want.

Planning for a Future When You Are Not There

Without a will, all of your possessions end up in the hands of the law, who then decide which assets go to who. 

They don’t just automatically fall into the hands of your loved ones, so it is important to consider this for their sake too. A lot of the time, family members or business partners presume that they will be entitled to so much only to find out that this isn’t the case causing disharmony in the ranks, which isn’t good for the future of the business.

A Will is Good for Business

In some cases where people have passed away, their family home has had to be sold in order to cover their business costs. 

This is a troubling notion for anyone to consider. Once you own a business and have business assets, it makes everything far more complicated. It would be devastating if a business that you spent years building up had to shut down due to your death. 

Furthermore, this could mean that tens or hundreds of your employees would also lose their job which would be a real shame, especially when this could have been avoided with some careful planning. 

Avoid Legal Difficulties

A will also significantly reduces the risk of your business having to shut down due to a legal battle. For example, when the law distributes your assets, they could split your business equally between your next of kin. 

If it was really supposed to go to just one child (because they had actually worked alongside you in the company), then this could result in a heated and lengthy dispute and immense emotional distress for your entire family. 

Furthermore, if it should go to your business partner, you could be faced leaving it behind with a family member that has no experience about your field, ultimately causing problems in a company that you’ve worked so hard to build.

Estate Planning and Inheritance Tax

When you do decide to write up your will, it is important that you consider succession planning, which will increase the advantages of business property relief (BPR). 

This will alleviate inheritance tax for your business, which is a vital area to be precise about in your planning. It ultimately protects your loved ones from being struck with hefty inheritance tax. 

Start Planning Today

The sooner you start planning your will the better to ensure that you and your loves ones are covered, should the unthinkable happen. 

A simple process but one often over looked, there have been thousands of cases where families and businesses are left in jeopardy because people have failed to safeguard for the future. 

Don’t be tempted to leave it until you are growing old or becoming ill, having a will in place will protect your business and your assets in the unfortunate event of sudden death. 

Even if you’re unsure where to start, take the first step by speaking to will solicitors about your options. This will clear up unanswered questions and set you on the right tracks.