Seven Planning Topics, Each With a Clear Edge
Birch River Horizon helps you put wishes, papers and accounts in order. For each topic below you will find what we do, what we leave to licensed professionals, and how fees work. We organise and explain; we do not give legal, tax or medical advice.
Most first conversations are simply that: two people talking it through. Illustrative image; it does not show our clients.
Which Topic Fits Which Need
Use the table to see where each topic helps and who completes the final paperwork. Many people begin with the document folder or the digital notes because they need no legal step, and add the others later.
| Topic | Best for | Property & money | Digital | Care & health | Family & farewell | Final paperwork by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inheritance Overview | Owning property, accounts or a business | ✓ | – | – | – | Lawyer, judicial scrivener, tax accountant |
| Will Support | Wanting to name who receives what | ✓ | – | – | – | Notary (deed) or you (handwritten), with professional advice |
| Digital Notes | Many online accounts and subscriptions | – | ✓ | – | – | You, and each account provider |
| Legacy Recording | Wanting to leave letters, voices or stories | – | – | – | ✓ | You (we do not produce media) |
| Care Wishes Notes | Wanting your care preferences understood | – | – | ✓ | – | You and your doctor; guardianship via court or professional |
| Funeral Pre-Planning | Wanting a particular kind of farewell | – | – | – | ✓ | Funeral provider, temple or cemetery you choose |
| Document Folder | Papers scattered around the house | ✓ | ✓ | – | – | You (the folder stays with you) |
Who Does What in Japan
End-of-life planning crosses several professions, each with its own legal role. We name the roles, not firms, and this page is not a referral list. Birch River Horizon does not claim to hold any of these qualifications on this site.
Lawyer
弁護士 (bengoshi)
Legal advice and representation, including inheritance disputes, and drafting wills with legal advice.
- Disputes between heirs
- Legal advice on a will
- Court proceedings
Judicial Scrivener
司法書士 (shihō-shoshi)
Registration of real estate, including inherited property, and help preparing applications to the family court, for example for guardianship.
- Inheritance registration
- Court application papers
Administrative Scrivener
行政書士 (gyōsei-shoshi)
Preparing documents for public offices and private agreements, such as an agreement among heirs on dividing an estate. The scope depends on the case, and they do not represent you in disputes.
- Documents for public offices
- Private agreements
Tax Accountant
税理士 (zeirishi)
Tax advice and inheritance tax returns. Inheritance tax has a statutory filing deadline, so ask early rather than late.
- Inheritance tax filing
- Tax questions
Notary
公証人 (kōshōnin)
Public officers who prepare notarial deeds, including notarial wills, at a notary office (公証役場).
- Notarial deed wills
- Witnessed documents
Doctor and Care Team
医師・ケアチーム
Medical advice, treatment decisions and conversations about your health and the care you would want. Your own doctor knows your situation; we do not.
- Treatment decisions
- Care planning conversations
How Working With Us Is Structured
We do not sell fixed packages or publish a price list. Each stage below is optional, and you can stop after any of them.
A First Conversation
Free, with no obligation
- Talk through your situation and what worries you
- Choose which of the seven topics apply
- Hear plainly what is and is not our job
- Leave with a clear next step, even if it is not us
Working Together
Scope and fee agreed in writing first
- A written outline of the topics we will cover
- A fee quoted before any work starts
- Notes, lists or drafts prepared with you
- Phone, video or a meeting, as agreed
- You keep every document we produce
Keeping It Current
For when life changes
- Revisit the notes after a move, a birth, a diagnosis or a loss
- Update the lists of accounts and papers
- A quote for any extra time before we start
- Stop whenever you wish
Any fee is quoted in writing before work begins and is explained on the commercial notice. Fees of notaries, lawyers, registrars and tax accountants are separate and are paid to them.
Illustrative image; it does not show our clients or staff.
What You Can Expect From Us
We would rather be clear than impressive. These are the commitments we make on this site, and nothing more.
- A written scope and fee first – nothing starts until you have seen both.
- Plain statements about limits – we say when something belongs to a lawyer, a notary, a tax accountant or a doctor.
- No sales pressure – the first conversation is free, and “not now” is a complete answer.
- Your papers stay with you – we do not take originals, hold passwords or offer a vault.
- Replies on business days – we read each enquiry and answer as soon as we can, Monday to Friday.
Ready to Talk It Through?
Tell us in a few lines what you would like to settle. We will reply with how we could help, or say so honestly if someone else is the better fit.
Business hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30-20:00 (JST); closed Saturday and Sunday.