Dementia-proofing your assets — 5 practical steps to protect your future

5 May 2026

3 min read

Private Client & Estate Planning, Brabners Personal

Three adults sit at a wooden table, examining documents and a tablet; one person writes with a pen while another looks on, with a mug and plant nearby.

A diagnosis of dementia — or even early concerns about memory and decision‑making — can have a profound impact on your finances, estate planning and family life. While it’s an understandably difficult topic to think about, taking legal advice early can make a significant difference if mental capacity is lost in the future.

Here, Sarah Murphy explains what ‘dementia-proofing’ your assets involves and outlines five practical steps that you can take to protect your wishes, family and finances.

What does it mean to ‘dementia-proof’ your assets?

Dementia‑proofing your assets means putting the right safeguards in place while you still have mental capacity. It’s about planning ahead so that — if you’re no longer able to make decisions for yourself — trusted people can step in smoothly and lawfully, without unnecessary delay, cost or stress.

Effective planning gives you control over what happens to your finances, property and care, rather than leaving decisions to default legal rules or the courts.

Why having an up‑to‑date Will matters

A valid, up‑to‑date Will is a crucial step in this process. It ensures that your estate passes in accordance with your wishes, rather than under intestacy rules that may not reflect your family circumstances or financial intentions.

If capacity is lost before a Will is made or updated, it may no longer be possible to put one in place. That can lead to uncertainty, disputes and outcomes that don’t align with what you’d intended.

Why Lasting Powers of Attorney are essential

We often see the consequences of planning being left too late.

One of our clients had always managed her own financial affairs and assumed that her husband and adult children would be able to “sort things out” if anything went wrong. When dementia developed unexpectedly, there was no Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in place.

Her family were unable to access accounts to pay household bills or arrange care without applying to the Court of Protection — a process that caused delay, expense and considerable stress at an already emotional time.

LPAs are therefore just as important as having a Will.

A Property and Financial Affairs LPA allows trusted individuals to manage your finances and property on your behalf, including paying bills and dealing with investments.

A Health and Welfare LPA covers decisions about care and medical treatment.

Without LPAs in place, families may have no automatic legal authority to act — even where their intentions are clearly in your best interests.

Five practical steps to start dementia‑proofing your assets

Review your Will and make sure that it still reflects your wishes and family circumstances.
Put LPAs in place early so trusted people can act for you if needed.
Choose your legal advisors carefully and talk to them about your preferences for finances, care and day‑to‑day decisions.
Make sure that key documents are stored safely and that loved ones know where to find them.
Seek legal advice if your situation is complex or if there are early concerns about memory or decision‑making.

Talk to us

Clear planning provides control, clarity and peace of mind for you and for those who may one day need to manage your affairs.

Our award-winning private client team can help you to put practical safeguards in place, including Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney, to protect both your future and your family’s.

Get in touch by giving us a call on 0333 004 4488, sending us an email at privateclient@brabners.com or completing our contact form.

If you’re looking for trusted personal legal advice, discover Brabners Personal — our solution that gives you easy access to expert support to help you to plan for the future.

Sarah Murphy

Sarah leads our Lancashire private client team.