Plan ahead

The conversations nobody wants to have. Having them anyway is one of the kindest things you can do for your family.

This page exists because of hindsight. Every family who's been through a death says the same thing: "I wish we'd talked about this." The paperwork takes an afternoon. The conversation takes courage. Both save your family enormous stress.

The essentials

Make a will. If you die without one, the law decides who gets what — and it may not be what you'd want. A simple will costs $300–$600 through a solicitor. Update it after major life changes (marriage, divorce, children, property).
Set up an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA). Two types: one for property/finances, one for personal care. If you lose capacity without an EPA, your family has to go to court — which is expensive, slow, and distressing. Cost: $250–$500 per EPA.
Write an advance directive. What medical treatment do you want or not want if you can't communicate? This isn't morbid — it's a gift to the person who'd otherwise have to guess.
Tell someone where your documents are. Will, EPA, insurance policies, bank details, KiwiSaver, property documents. If nobody can find them, they might as well not exist.
Have the funeral conversation. Burial or cremation? Big service or small? Religious or not? Who speaks? What music? These aren't decisions your family should be making for the first time while they're grieving.
Consider life insurance. Especially if you have dependants, a mortgage, or debts. A funeral alone costs $2,000–$15,000 — can your family cover that tomorrow?

The conversation

The hardest part isn't the paperwork — it's the conversation. Here's how to start it:

"I've been thinking about getting my will sorted." Start with yourself. It's less confronting than asking someone else about their death.
"If something happened to me, would you know where everything is?" Practical. Not emotional. Easy to answer.
"I read something that made me think we should talk about this." Blame the website. That's what it's here for.
With elderly parents: "I want to make sure I can help you properly if you need me to. Can we talk about your will and EPA?" Frame it as helping them, not planning for their death.

It doesn't have to be one big conversation. Bring it up over dinner. Mention it on a walk. Come back to it. The first mention breaks the seal — after that, it gets easier.

Where to keep everything

None of this helps if nobody can find it when they need it.

Will — with your solicitor (they hold the original). Keep a copy at home and tell your executor where it is.
EPA — give a copy to your attorney (the person you've appointed). Keep the original somewhere safe.
Insurance policies — in a folder, at home, clearly labelled. Your partner or executor should know it exists.
Digital passwords — use a password manager and share the master password with one trusted person. Or write critical passwords down and seal them in an envelope with your will.
A single page summary — solicitor's name and number, bank accounts, insurance policies, KiwiSaver provider, mortgage details, any debts. One page. In a drawer. Saves your family hours.

Pre-paid funerals

You can pay for your funeral in advance, locking in today's prices. Some things to know:

Most funeral directors offer pre-payment plans
The money is held in a trust — it's protected if the funeral director goes out of business
You can usually change the details later (venue, type of service)
Check what happens if you move — is the plan transferable?
Compare this against simply putting the money in a savings account earmarked for the purpose

The single most useful thing you can do is make sure one person in your family knows where the will is, who the solicitor is, and what your wishes are. Everything else flows from that.

The information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute legal, financial, or medical advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional.

Dollar figures and entitlements change periodically. We link to authoritative sources where possible. Last reviewed: April 2026.

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