No Family to Rely On? 5 Arrangements to Secure Your Later Life-and What Comes After.

From regular check-ins to your final farewell, a gyoseishoshi lawyer supports you every step of the way

“I have no family, so I worry about what will happen after I pass away.”
“If I’m hospitalized, I don’t know who could handle the paperwork for me.”

We receive more and more inquiries like these every year. Not having family to rely on is far from unusual—and if you prepare while you are still healthy, most of these worries can be resolved.

This article introduces five legal arrangements that support you from today through the time after you pass away.

The “4 Walls” People Living Alone Face

Check-in Contract (見守り契約) — Peace of mind that someone is looking out for you

Through regular phone calls and meetings, we keep track of your health and any changes in your daily life.

• You’ll always have someone to talk to about your concerns, so you’re never isolated
• We notice changes early—like “my legs hurt and I can’t go shopping”—and connect you to the next level of support at the right time

 

Property Management Contract (財産管理等委任契約) — Support when your body can’t keep up

Even without dementia, hospitalization or reduced mobility can make it hard to go out.

This contract allows us to handle deposits and withdrawals, everyday payments, and government procedures on your behalf.

• You decide, by your own choice, exactly what to entrust
• It also helps protect your assets from high-pressure sales tactics and scams

 

Voluntary Guardianship Contract (任意後見契約) — Choose your own guardian

This system lets you choose your guardian in advance, in case dementia or illness reduces your ability to make decisions.

• The contract is created as a notarized deed, and the notary arranges its registration with the Legal Affairs Bureau
• Once your decision-making ability declines, the Family Court appoints a guardianship supervisor, and support begins
• A certificate of registered matters issued by the Legal Affairs Bureau officially proves to banks, hospitals, and care facilities that your guardian is your legitimate representative

Even without relatives, a government system certifies who represents you—this is the great reassurance of voluntary guardianship.

💡 A “transition-type” arrangement combines the check-in, property management, and voluntary guardianship contracts, so support is handed over smoothly as your situation changes.

Posthumous Affairs Contract (死後事務委任契約) — The farewell you want, and everything taken care of

A guardian’s authority ends the moment the person passes away.

To entrust the procedures that follow, you need a Posthumous Affairs Contract.

Main tasks you can entrust

• A funeral in the style you prefer, such as a small family funeral or direct cremation
• Permanent interment at a temple or cemetery, tree burial, or scattering of ashes
• Settling hospital bills and discharge procedures
• Terminating your lease and disposing of your belongings
• Canceling electricity, gas, and water, and handling government procedures

“I don’t want to be forgotten with no one to mourn me.” “I’d like to be memorialized at this temple.”—this contract turns those wishes into reality.

Notarized Will (公正証書遺言) — Decide where your assets go

If someone without legal heirs passes away without a will, their assets may ultimately go to the national treasury.

With a will, you can:

• Leave assets to friends who have helped you
• Donate to medical or welfare institutions, animal welfare groups, scholarship funds, and more

A notarized will is the most reliable method, because the original is kept at the notary office—there’s no risk of it being lost or altered.

🌏 For foreign residents: In Japan, inheritance is generally governed by the law of the deceased person’s home country. How a will works for you may depend on your nationality, so please consult us about your specific situation.

Fees — Individual Quotes Based on Your Situation

The support you need varies greatly from person to person.

For this reason, we prepare an individual quote for each client after an initial consultation.

Factors that affect the quote include:

• Which of the five arrangements you would like to use
• The size and type of your assets (including any assets outside Japan)
• How often you would like check-ins and support
• Your nationality and the laws that may apply to your inheritance
• Whether documents need to be obtained from, or procedures handled in, your home country
• Your wishes for your funeral and burial, including whether your remains are to be sent overseas
• Translation and certification of documents

In addition to our fees, costs such as notary fees, registration fees, and translation costs will apply. After voluntary guardianship begins, a separate fee for the guardianship supervisor, set by the Family Court, will also apply.

Posthumous affairs costs (such as funeral expenses) and how they are paid—including whether an advance deposit is required—are also decided individually based on your situation. Any funds we hold in advance are managed separately from our office’s own assets.

We will explain the full breakdown clearly before you decide anything, so please feel free to ask.

The Best Time to Start Is “Now, While You’re Healthy”

All of these contracts can only be signed while you still have full decision-making ability.

If you feel “it’s still too early,” that is exactly the right time.

First, Tell Us What You Hope For

“How would you like the assets you’ve built to be used in the future?”
“What are your wishes for the final chapter of your life?”

It’s perfectly fine even if you don’t know where to start.

We will support your future with sound legal knowledge and genuine care—all the way to the end.

Contact us here ⇒ info@office-kai.net