13 Aug 20254 min read

How life admin planning eases grief and gives families space to heal

Discover how one family learned that organising important documents before loss can ease grief and reduce stress during hard times.

Navigating grief and life admin can feel overwhelming

Grief is already heavy. When it comes with the added stress of sorting through paperwork and dealing with phone calls, the weight can feel unbearable. Many families are surprised by how much administration appears the moment someone passes away. From closing accounts to managing bills, it often means hours of work when all you want is space to grieve.

Sarah experienced this first hand when her father died unexpectedly. “We did not know where anything was or where to start… it was stressful and daunting trying to work out where to find information when we had to tackle communicating his death and moving things into my mum’s name,” she said.

Her story is not unique. A recent SafeKeep national poll revealed that only seven percent of people have all their important documents stored in one place, and more than 30% said it would take three hours or more to gather everything they need. That means when tragedy strikes, families often spend precious time digging through files and waiting on hold instead of finding comfort in one another.

Sarah’s story

In August 2022, Sarah’s father died suddenly of a heart attack. The shock of loss quickly turned into weeks of phone calls, searches, and paperwork. Her father had managed all the household utilities and owned a small business, which meant even more complexity.

Sarah recalls:

No shared login details for online accounts
Difficulty finding insurance documents buried in old files
Hours spent on hold with customer service teams
Confusion about which bills were unpaid and what needed cancelling

“It took ages to piece everything together,” she explained. “We wished important documents were kept together in one place.”

This experience is common. According to the National Bereavement Service, families often spend months managing a loved one’s affairs, adding to their emotional burden.

"Waiting times to speak to customer services at banks and utilities can be extremely long, so finally getting through only to find that you do not have the information they need is hugely frustrating.”

Sarah

48, Surrey

The unseen burden of death admin

When someone dies, most people expect sadness and memories. What many do not expect is the sheer volume of administrative work that follows almost immediately. Sarah remembers spending long hours on the phone, filling out forms, and trying to find documents while also arranging a funeral.

Every company has different rules. Some need death certificates before changes can be made. Others ask for paper forms while some allow online access. Sarah said, “waiting times to speak to customer services at banks and utilities can be extremely long, so finally getting through only to find that you do not have the information they need is hugely frustrating.”

This hidden layer of work drains emotional energy and time, leaving families feeling stuck between mourning and paperwork. It is a heavy burden many never see coming.

“We ended up searching through folders full of paperwork. It took ages, and often we could not find what we needed and wished that important documents were kept together in one place.”

Sarah

48, Surrey

How lack of preparation deepens grief

Grief is exhausting. Adding unexpected tasks like searching for passwords, hunting through old paperwork, or waiting on hold for customer service can make it feel even heavier. Sarah shared, “we ended up searching through folders full of paperwork. It took ages, and often we could not find what we needed and wished that important documents were kept together in one place.”

This is a common problem. Many people believe they are prepared because they have some documents saved, but often these are scattered in drawers, email inboxes, or old computers. SafeKeep’s national poll found that only three percent of people could gather all their documents within thirty minutes.

The emotional toll is real. Even simple tasks like closing a phone contract or locating house insurance documents can feel overwhelming when a loved one has just passed away. Without preparation, the weight of life admin can take away precious time for reflection and healing.

Discovering SafeKeep as a solution

Sarah and her family did not want to repeat the same experience with her mum’s affairs. “Although all my mum’s utility and bank accounts are in her name, we had not found one place to safely and securely store documents and passwords until we discovered SafeKeep,” she said.

SafeKeep gives families a secure and private place to store essential documents and passwords. Its features include renewal reminders and the option to give trusted people access when it is needed most. Sarah now has peace of mind knowing that if something happens, she and her brother will not have to go through the same painful scramble.

Planning ahead is not only practical but also emotional. It gives loved ones space to grieve without drowning in paperwork. Preparing today means protecting those you care about from unnecessary stress tomorrow.

If you are ready to take control of your documents and give your loved ones that gift, SafeKeep can help.