"None of us wants to imagine the day we are no longer here, but the choices we make now can be one of the greatest gifts we leave behind."
- Louise Colley - Zurich UK
79% of UK adults worry about how their loved ones will cope after they die, but just 48% have a valid will, new research by Zurich has found.
The research also revealed that one in five people experienced strained family relationships following the death of a loved one, while one in ten said the fallout was so severe they never spoke to that family member again.
Yet many families are still avoiding the conversations that could prevent disputes, Zurich says. 39% said they find it difficult to talk to loved ones about their final wishes, while only half have shared how they want their assets split.
Managing probate or estate administration is a responsibility that falls to 42% of people facing the death of a loved one, and 60% of those responsible for probate said they found it difficult, a figure that rises to 83% among millennials.
As a result of this, those living through a painful probate process due to the absence of a will are significantly more likely to have their own end-of-life planning in order, as the research found that 68% of those in this cohort have a valid will, compared to just 48% of the wider population.
Among recently bereaved people, 28% who have witnessed a loved one die without a will said the experience has prompted them to put their own affairs in order, and a further 20% have considered taking action.
Zurich launches Legacy Kitchen with Matt Tebbutt
Zurich’s research also revealed that 47% of recently bereaved people found that food, whether cooking or eating, has in some way helped them through their grief, while a further 16% said that if they could spend one more day with their lost loved one, they would choose to share a meal with them.
In addition, 37% of UK adults have inherited a food-related keepsake, whether a recipe, a cookbook, a kitchen utensil or cooking pot, and 21% said they expect to pass down a kitchen keepsake in the future.
Inspired by the connection, Zurich has partnered with chef and Saturday Kitchen TV presenter Matt Tebbutt to create the Legacy Kitchen cookbook, a collection of 20 treasured family recipes and lessons from loss by people across the UK who have lost a loved one.
This follows the launch of Zurich LifeVault, which allows customers to store cherished items like photos, recipes, and keepsakes alongside critical legal and financial paperwork.
"For me personally, getting my grandma’s Be-Ro recipe book, which was dotted with sauce stains and flour dust, was a symbol of her love that will carry through generations," Louise Colley, director of retail protection at Zurich UK, said.
"When facing a bereavement, these keepsakes are priceless, and those left behind are often grateful they have survived. It’s why we give our life insurance customers the ability to save cherished items in their digital LifeVault alongside the important documents that help family and friends navigate the turbulent waters following a death.
"None of us wants to imagine the day we are no longer here, but the choices we make now can be one of the greatest gifts we leave behind: easing the burden on the people we love when they are grieving most. Planning for death is not cold, morbid or administrative - it is love made practical. It’s an act of empathy that outlives us, even though we may never see its impact.
"Yet with only one in three people comfortable talking about death, too many families are left guessing. My hope is that this book gives people the reason and the courage to start today. Have the conversation, write down what matters, protect the memories, and make sure those you love know your wishes."
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Matt Tebbutt, TV chef and presenter, added: "Food can be a bridge between generations and a bandage for the soul. As someone who’s delivered seven obituaries on air, for colleagues, chefs, friends, I’m intimately aware of, and in awe of, the vital role food plays in our lives, and its ability to connect us with those we’ve lost.
"Food has brought me comfort in bereavement, but it can help much earlier too, as a reason to get together and have difficult conversations about our own mortality and the wishes we have for when we’re gone. I hope this cookbook inspires people not just to remember a lost loved one but maybe reflect on how their absence might affect the world too."
James Tait, director of corporate risk at Zurich UK, commented: "Preparing for the unexpected is one of the most thoughtful things we can do for the people who matter to us. Through Zurich LifeVault, employees of our customers can securely store important information alongside treasured memories, helping ensure loved ones have access to what they need when it matters most.
"It's a simple step that can provide greater clarity, reassurance and peace of mind for families in the future."
