Patricia C Byron

LAST ORDERS

The essential guide to Your Letter of Wishes       

When local author Patricia C Byron was asked to be the executor of her friend’s will, she had to think quickly.

Her friend was terminally ill and lived alone, so Patricia needed vital answers to difficult questions. In 2006, just a few months before her friend sadly passed away, Patricia wrote Last Orders to assist them both. However, when her mother died suddenly, Patricia learnt even more about the process of handling estates and dealing with the challenging aspects surrounding death. Her mission is to incentivise the public into leaving clear, unambiguous instructions about their final wishes. Patricia's journey is in the Foreword.

Last Orders is a book intended to assist anyone and everyone. It deals with that perennial taboo, the subject of death. It is not a will, nor should it be considered as such. It is however, the essential guide to producing a Letter of Wishes which, once completed correctly by the reader, should save incalculable amounts of stress and take most, if not all, of the guesswork out of the administration of their estate. It will offer a vast amount of helpful information about whom executors should contact, the funeral the deceased wished for, their finances, their belongings, and even their pets. This book is simple yet comprehensive. Its usefulness cannot be overstated.

The author offers background information and insight guiding the reader through 12 sections and over 100 simple but relevant questions. Each section relates to a topic that will need to be addressed, which will make every reader question their priorities and their wishes on this difficult, but topical subject. The answers the reader provides will eradicate doubt and offer clarity to their executors and family.

While there are numerous excellent websites and books that address the role of an executor, and the responsibilities entailed in administering an estate after death, Last Orders does not seek to repeat them. The fundamental difference is that Last Orders seeks to attain invaluable answers to pertinent questions before death occurs.  

Last Orders retails at £12.99 and is out now in paperback. Published by Stella Books.