If you’re unavailable, decisions stall.
If you can’t sign, nothing moves.
If your family needs authority, they wait.
This is not dramatic. It’s practical reality.
For business owners and private clients, the ability to act-sign, authorise, instruct, and decide-is what keeps everything functioning. When that ability disappears unexpectedly, the consequences are often immediate: accounts can’t be managed, business decisions pause, and families face delay at the worst time.
And it’s far more common than most people assume. One recent UK report stated 56% of adults do not have a will.
This article explains what happens when you don’t have a Will or Lasting Power of Attorney in place-and what people put in place early to keep control with the right people.
The real problem isn’t paperwork. It’s authority.
Most people think about Wills and LPAs as “documents”.
The better way to see them is this:
• A Will controls what happens after you die
• An LPA controls what happens while you are alive but cannot act
Without them, the issue isn’t emotion first – it’s authority first.
Who can speak on your behalf?
Who can access accounts?
Who can sign documents?
Who can make decisions?
If there is no legal authority, the answer is often: no one can – until a formal process catches up.
What happens if you don’t have a Will?
A Will does three important things:
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It states who inherits
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It appoints executors to manage the estate
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It reduces uncertainty and conflict by making intent clear.
Without a Will, your estate is typically dealt with under intestacy rules. That can mean:
• The distribution may not reflect your wishes
• Loved ones may face additional delay and stress
• Complex family situations can become more difficult
• Business assets can create extra complication
If you have a business, shares, property interests, or multi-party arrangements, “no Will” rarely stays simple.
A Will is not just for later life. It is a control tool for anyone with:
• Property
• Dependants
• A business interest
• Significant responsibilities
• A complex family arrangement
What happens if you don’t have an LPA?
An LPA exists for the moment nobody expects.
If you lose capacity through illness, injury, or a sudden event, you may not be able to:
• Sign contracts or legal documents
• Manage bank accounts
• Make business decisions or approve payments
• Instruct solicitors or accountants
• Handle property transactions
• Make healthcare decisions
Without an LPA, your family may not automatically be able to step in. Even if you are married. Even if they are your children. Even if they “know what you would want”.
They may need to apply for formal authority, which takes time, effort, and cost—at the worst possible moment.
An LPA is not about expecting the worst. It is about ensuring continuity when life does what it does.
Why business owners need to treat this differently
For business owners, the issue is compounded because personal capacity and business continuity are linked.
If you are the signer on key accounts, contracts, leases, or facility agreements, your inability to act can trigger immediate operational friction.
Here are three common scenarios:
1) Your business bank account becomes difficult to operate
If you are the primary signatory, payments can stall, wages can be delayed, and supplier confidence can fall.
2) Your business can’t complete transactions
Property purchases, leases, refinancing, or funding can pause if signatures and approvals cannot be given.
3) Decisions become stuck at the top
If the business depends heavily on one person, the risk is not just emotional. It is operational.
Many businesses discover this too late-when pressure is already high.
The essentials to put in place early
This is what most well-prepared business owners and private clients put in place early, while everything is calm.
1) A clear Will
A properly drafted Will typically clarifies:
• Who benefits
• Who controls the process (executors)
• How assets should be handled
• How business interests should be treated
• How dependants are protected
2) A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)
There are two main areas LPAs typically cover:
• Property and financial affairs (accounts, bills, property, business interests)
• Health and welfare (care decisions, medical matters, quality of life choices)
The practical benefit is simple: if you cannot act, the people you choose can
3) A business-owner view of succession and authority
This is often missed.
Business owners should also consider:
• Who can sign and operate accounts
• How decisions are authorised if you are unavailable
• What happens to shares and control if something happens
• Whether agreements reflect real intentions
This is where private client planning and corporate structure intersect
The most common reason people delay
People delay Wills and LPAs because:
• It feels uncomfortable.
• It feels “for later.”
• It feels like “tempting fate.”
But the reality is the opposite:
A Will and LPA are not about fear. They are about control.
The right time to put them in place is when:
• You are calm
• You can choose carefully
• You can decide without pressure
• Your intent is clear
That is what creates a clean outcome later.
What a good process looks like
A good private client process is usually structured like this:
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A short conversation to understand what matters and what needs protecting
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Clear options on the right documents and the right structure
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Drafting that reflects real intent, not generic templates
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Proper execution so documents are legally valid and usable
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A clean storage and access plan so the right people can find them
The goal is not complexity. The goal is clarity.
How Butterfly supports this
Through our Legal Advisory panel, we coordinate access to suitable Private Client solicitors for:
• Wills
• Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA)
• Related private client support where required
We help you get the right professional involved and keep the process smooth, discreet, and well-structured – so control stays with the people you choose.
If you want this handled properly without turning it into a project, start with a short call.
Information only. Funding outcomes depend on eligibility and third-party criteria.
