Don’t overlook these three important choices when it comes to protecting your future and ensuring your loved one's security.
When planning for your financial future and ensuring your loved ones are supported, three important roles often come into play: trusted contacts, nominees, and legal representatives. Each serves a different purpose and understanding how they differ can help make managing your insurance policy easier and more effective.
Here’s a simple breakdown of what each role involves and why they matter.
What is a trusted contact?
A person you appoint who can be contacted on your behalf should a situation about your welfare arise.
What is a Nominee?
A person you can appoint to be able to deal with your policy or insurance claim on your behalf.
What is a Legal Representative?
Someone who is legally authorised to act on behalf of another person.
More about trusted contacts
A trusted contact is someone you choose who may be contacted by us only in certain situations, relating to your welfare or ability to engage with your policy. This person is typically a family member, close friend, or another person you trust.
We may contact your Trusted Contact Person only in specific circumstances, including:
- If there is a concern that you may be experiencing financial abuse
- To help confirm your current contact information, health status, or identity of any legal representatives
- When there are ongoing difficulties communicating with you directly
We may only share private or personal information with your Trusted Contact Person where:
- You have provided written consent,
- and The Trusted Contact Person has also agreed in writing to be contacted and to have their details stored.
Key points to consider:
- A Trusted Contact Person does not have legal authority to act on your behalf or make decisions about your financial affairs.
- If you appoint a legal representative this supersedes the Trusted Contact Person arrangement. Once a legal representative is in place, they will be the primary point of contact for any policy related matters
- A Trusted Contact Person cannot make changes, initiate transactions, or manage your policy in any way
More about A Nominee
A nominee is a person you authorise to act on your behalf if you are unable to do so yourself- for example, if you become seriously ill and are unable to contact us, or in the event of your passing. Your nominee will be able to discuss your policy or insurance claim with us and make any necessary amendments. They will have full access to the information held on file, giving you peace of mind that important updates can be still made when needed. Even in simple situations such as if you can’t make a call yourself and need someone to update your car details or let us know you’ve moved house or help you manage ongoing claim; your nominee can contact us on your behalf.
Key points to consider:
- Your nominee can speak to us or make changes to your policy if you are unable to contact us yourself, including in the event of your passing.
- Your nominee can also help with everyday updates, such as notifying us of a change of address or updating vehicle details.
- Your nominee can help you with an ongoing motor or property claim.
- Your nominee should be someone you trust, as they will have access to your personal information.
- You can change or remove your nominee at any time by contacting us.
By appointing a nominee, you choose exactly who can speak to us on your behalf. This can avoid the need for us to seek proof from a legal representative in many situations.
More about Legal Representative
A Legal Representative is a person who is legally authorised to act on behalf of another individual in specific situations or for certain decisions. This authority can be granted through legal documents, court orders, or formal support arrangements. A Legal Representative can access information, manage affairs, or make decisions when the person they represent is unable to do so themselves.
There are several types of Legal Representatives, each with different responsibilities depending on the person’s needs and circumstances:
- A Power of Attorney is a legal document that authorises a chosen person to act on someone’s behalf. This is often put in place when a person becomes incapacitated, meaning they are unable to make decisions or manage their affairs.
- An Executor of a Will is appointed to manage a person’s estate after their passing.
- A decision supporter is someone who helps a person make certain decisions when they need extra support. They may help explain information, talk through options, or, if legally authorised, make specific decisions on the person’s behalf. Their authority is set out in an official decision support arrangement, which can be checked through the Decision Support Service (DSS) register.
Key points to consider:
- We may ask to see documents such as power of attorney, court order before we can engage with a Legal Representative.
- Legal arrangements can vary so it's important to let us know which type of authority is in place so we can support you correctly.
Take Action Today
If you haven’t selected a trusted contact or nominee for your insurance policy, now is a good time to do so.
It’s a simple step that can make managing your policy easier during unexpected situations. It also gives you and your loved one's peace of mind, knowing someone you trust can step in when needed.
A few minutes of planning now can make a meaningful difference later.
By understanding what each of these - a trusted contact, a nominee and a legal representative - does in practice, you can better organise your financial plans to help protect and manage your assets during your lifetime and beyond.
Where can I get help and advice on financial abuse?
Financial abuse happens when someone takes advantage of another person’s money, property, or ability to make financial decisions. It can involve taking money without permission, restricting access to finances, or pressuring someone into financial choices they don’t want to make. This can occur within personal relationships, through caregivers, or through scams and fraud.
Financial or economic abuse is a serious issue in Ireland. Research by [Safeguarding Ireland] shows that around 3 in 10 adults have experienced some form of financial abuse - often involving pressure, manipulation, or control by someone known to them.
Financial abuse can take many different forms. It may happen gradually or suddenly, and it can occur within families, personal relationships, caregiving situations, or through scams and fraud.
What financial abuse can look like
Everyday financial interference
- Cash being taken from the home
- Change not being returned after purchases
- Property or personal belongings used without permission
- Misuse of bank cards, credit cards, or online accounts
Pressure or control
- Being pressured to change a property deed, Will, or Enduring Power of Attorney
- Someone closely monitoring or restricting your spending
- A partner controlling access to money or financial information
- Being made to sign documents you don’t fully understand
Fraud and scam activity
- Identity theft or accounts opened in your name
- Unauthorised transactions
- Being asked to share passwords, PINs or device access
- Fraud or scams carried out by strangers or someone pretending to be a known organisation
Abuse by caregivers
- A caregiver, family member or trusted person using your money or benefits for their own purposes
- Someone failing to pay bills or manage money responsibly on your behalf
Financial abuse can be difficult to recognise and talk about, but you’re not alone, support is available.
Protecting yourself
If you are concerned about financial abuse, consider:
- Not sharing bank cards, PINs or passwords
- Limiting who has access to your online banking or insurance accounts
- Asking a trusted person or your bank for help if anything feels unusual or suspicious
Where can I get help and advice on financial abuse?
Support available to you
If you need support to deal with any of the situations above, confidential support and assistance is available from:
Women’s Aid
Working to prevent and respond to domestic violence and abuse in Ireland, including coercive control. Women’s Aid provides confidential support, information, and assistance to anyone affected.
Health Service Executive National Safeguarding Office
Provides support if you are worried about your own safety or at risk of abuse, neglect, or harm - including situations where someone steals or misuses your money, property, or possessions. The HSE can guide you on how to report concerns or request support.
An Garda Síochána
If you wish to report the abuse in confidence without giving your name, you can contact the Garda Confidential Line. Emergency or immediate risk, if a person is in immediate danger, contact the Garda Síochána or Emergency Services at 999 or 112