Last Orders: practical assistance for executors and family

A splendid little book which steers a person through the essentials for the recording of information, and expressing wishes, to friends and executors when the person dies.  Covering such matters as who is to be informed of the individual's passing, the desired funeral arrangements and who is look after the deceased's pets etc., etc.

The book has a certain tone which, to those of us used to dealing with the blunt legal aspects of estate planning, wills and estate administration, can come across as soppy and, at times, plain irritating. It does, however, work extremely well as a supplementary aid for addressing the softer issues involved in the administration of a deceased's affairs.

It is not a book on wills.

Comments

[tax consultants Ireland]

hey..this is great I also like to read the book. By reading your views I feel that the book is published with a great motive. It will be interesting to read the deceased affairs of the administration.

Thanks a lot.

[Patricia C Byron]

As I am sure you are aware, Last Orders was not intended to be used exclusively by professionals who are adept at handling and – it has to be said - immune to, the travails of wills and estates. Instead, it was written with the lay public in mind who, in my view, need as much encouragement as possible to get their affairs in order. If that means appealing to their better nature, by explaining matters simply and practically, I make no apology for it. Indeed one could argue that had the book been written in blunt legal terms, it would have been not just repellent but self defeating too making the prospect of completing it even more unpalatable for the lay public.

That said, I thank you for your generous comments and I am delighted that you think Last Orders a "splendid little book". Seemingly, others agree with many law firms now using the book as an adjunct in their will making programme.

Kind regards

Patricia C Byron