Short, practical posts from Anita Elliott — a Blackpool solicitor who writes wills in people's homes. No jargon, no upsells. Just the stuff you actually need to know.
Gary made his will in 2004, divorced in 2016, never updated it. When he died in 2024, the will still treated his ex-wife as if they were married. Don't let this happen to your family.
Read more →Ian loved his stepdaughter Mia like his own. His will said “I leave everything to my children.” When he died, Mia received nothing — because legally, she wasn’t his child.
Read more →Paul believed strongly in supporting causes close to his heart. A small gift in his will to a local animal charity funded vital care long after he was gone.
Read more →When David remarried later in life, he assumed his old will would protect everyone. He loved his wife Karen and wanted his children from the first marriage provided for. He never updated it.
Read more →Margaret was 72, healthy and capable. Then a stroke made simple tasks — paying bills, speaking to the bank — impossible. Without an LPA, her family had no legal authority to help.
Read more →“I just want it to be simple.” That’s the sentence that started it. An hour later, she had peace of mind.
Read more →Brenda always told her daughter Lucy “one day these rings are yours.” Her will just said “everything to my children equally.” What should have been simple turned into a family argument.
Read more →Alan and Maria downloaded a free will template, signed it at the kitchen table, and put it in a drawer. One small procedural mistake invalidated the whole thing.
Read more →John and Mary lived together for 22 years. When John died suddenly, Mary discovered she wasn’t legally recognised as anything at all.
Read more →Margaret left her estate equally to her three children. When her middle son Michael died before her, everyone assumed his share would go to his wife and children. It didn’t.
Read more →A Letter of Wishes is a confidential document that sits alongside your will. It lets you explain your personal wishes without having to formally rewrite the will every time things change.
Read more →Online templates and DIY kits look like a quick fix — but they often miss vital legal details. Here’s why a solicitor-drafted will is treated as the gold standard.
Read more →Becoming a parent changes everything. One of the most important steps you can take to protect your children is to put a legally valid will in place — here’s what to think about.
Read more →Buying a home is one of the biggest financial milestones of your life. It’s also one of the most important moments to review or create your will.
Read more →Making a will isn’t something you do once and leave forever. It should evolve with your life. Here are the moments that should trigger a review.
Read more →One short email when a new post goes up. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
