If you are a married woman and have been living in a property for many years, it is worth checking you are registered as a joint owner. An unmarried woman living with a man may have no right to a property if no will is made and she is not a joint owner. Work out the full value of your assets so you can plan how to avoid inheritance tax in plenty of time. Make a will. Check company benefits.
Most employers pay a death in service benefit to the dependants of employees.
It could be more tax efficient to ask an employer to pass this money on directly to children. If not, it will be passed on to the spouse's estate and become taxable when they die. Don't forget to help your favourite charities. Remember the seven-year rule when it comes to making gifts. If you survive for seven years after making a gift, inheritance tax is not payable.