Do It Legally: life-shaping legal documents and services

09/06/2026

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝗲?
It's something no parent wants to think about, but planning ahead can make an incredibly difficult situation much easier for your children and loved ones.

⚖️ 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹
A properly appointed guardian in a valid will can usually take over parental responsibility for your child if all those with parental responsibility have passed away. Naming a guardian helps provide clarity, stability, and reassurance about who would care for your children.

This is one of the most important reasons parents should have a will in place.

🏛️ 𝗜𝗳 𝗻𝗼 𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱
If there is no valid will naming a guardian:
• Children's Services may become involved initially to ensure the child's immediate welfare.
• Family members such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, or adult siblings may be considered as carers.
• If there is disagreement about who should care for the child, the Family Court may need to make a decision based on the child's best interests.

The court's primary consideration is always the welfare of the child. ❤️

💷 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱'𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲?
If both parents pass away:
• Assets may pass according to the terms of a will or, if there is no will, under the rules of intestacy.
• Any inheritance for a minor is typically managed by trustees until the child reaches the age at which they become entitled to receive it.
• Trustees are responsible for managing those funds on the child's behalf.

🏡 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗴𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲?
In many cases, suitable family members are able and willing to care for children following the loss of their parents. Foster care is generally considered only where an appropriate family arrangement cannot be made.

✍️ 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆
✅ Make a valid will
✅ Appoint guardians for your children
✅ Consider life insurance to provide financial security
✅ Leave a letter of wishes to guide loved ones
✅ Keep important documents organised and accessible

No one likes to think about these situations, but careful planning today can provide certainty, protection, and peace of mind for the people who matter most. 💛

If you'd like advice about appointing guardians in your will, we're here to help. Do It Legally: life-shaping legal documents and services

08/06/2026

𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀?

The Government is considering significant changes to inheritance and family law that could give cohabiting couples the same automatic inheritance rights as married couples and civil partners.

Currently, if someone dies without a Will, their unmarried partner has no automatic right to inherit from their estate under the rules of intestacy. The proposed reforms could change that for millions of cohabiting couples across the UK.

There are also proposals that may allow former cohabiting partners to claim a share of proceeds from property sales when relationships break down.

Supporters say the changes would modernise the law and better reflect how many families live today. Others argue that granting the same legal rights as marriage could diminish the distinction between marriage and cohabitation.

Whatever your view, one thing remains clear:

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘂𝗽-𝘁𝗼-𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱, regardless of any future changes to the law.

What do you think?

Should cohabiting couples have the same inheritance rights as married couples and civil partners?

👇 Share your thoughts in the comments.

Do It Legally: life-shaping legal documents and services

06/06/2026

𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆... 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝖻𝗶𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝖾𝗆𝗌 𝗅𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗋!

𝖬𝖺𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺 𝖶𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗂𝗌 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗂𝗆𝗉𝗅𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗒𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗍𝖾𝖼𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾𝖽 𝗈𝗇𝖾𝗌, 𝖾𝗇𝗌𝗎𝗋𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗐𝗂𝗌𝗁𝖾𝗌 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗅𝗅𝗈𝗐𝖾𝖽, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖺𝗏𝗈𝗂𝖽 𝗎𝗇𝗇𝖾𝖼𝖾𝗌𝗌𝖺𝗋𝗒 𝗌𝗍𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖾𝗑𝗉𝖾𝗇𝗌𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖿𝖺𝗆𝗂𝗅𝗒 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝗎𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖾.

𝖠𝗍 𝖣𝗈 𝖨𝗍 𝖫𝖾𝗀𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒, 𝗐𝖾 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗏𝗂𝖽𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗐𝖺𝗋𝖽, 𝖺𝖿𝖿𝗈𝗋𝖽𝖺𝖻𝗅𝖾 𝖶𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗐𝗋𝗂𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗌𝖾𝗋𝗏𝗂𝖼𝖾𝗌 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖼𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗋 𝖺𝖽𝗏𝗂𝖼𝖾 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒 𝗌𝗍𝖾𝗉 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗒.

𝖣𝗈𝗇'𝗍 𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗂𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾—𝗉𝗅𝖺𝗇 𝖺𝗁𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗍𝗈𝖽𝖺𝗒.

𝖶𝖾 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗏𝗂𝖽𝖾 𝖺 𝖿𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗇𝖽𝗅𝗒 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝖿𝖾𝗌𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇𝖺𝗅 𝖶𝗂𝗅𝗅 & 𝖯𝗅𝖺𝗇𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗌𝖾𝗋𝗏𝗂𝖼𝖾 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗆 𝖡𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗈𝗇 & 𝖧𝗈𝗏𝖾, 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖼𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗋 𝖿𝗂𝗑𝖾𝖽 𝗉𝗋𝗂𝖼𝗂𝗇𝗀:

• £𝟤𝟧𝟢 𝖿𝗎𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝗂𝗇𝖼𝗅𝗎𝗌𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝟣 𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗌𝗈𝗇 𝗈𝗋 £𝟥𝟧𝟢 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖺 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗉𝗅𝖾 – 𝗂𝗇-𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗌𝗈𝗇 𝗌𝖾𝗋𝗏𝗂𝖼𝖾
• £𝟣𝟧𝟢 𝖿𝗎𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝗂𝗇𝖼𝗅𝗎𝗌𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝟣 𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗌𝗈𝗇 𝗈𝗋 £𝟤𝟧𝟢 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖺 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗉𝗅𝖾 – 𝗋𝖾𝗆𝗈𝗍𝖾 𝗌𝖾𝗋𝗏𝗂𝖼𝖾

𝖶𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝟥𝟧 𝗒𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝖾𝗑𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗇𝖼𝖾, 𝗐𝖾 𝗆𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝖼𝖾𝗌𝗌 𝗌𝗂𝗆𝗉𝗅𝖾, 𝖼𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗋 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗌𝗍𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗌-𝖿𝗋𝖾𝖾.

📞𝖢𝗈𝗇𝗍𝖺𝖼𝗍 𝗎𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝗀𝖾𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖶𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖽𝖾𝖺𝗅𝗍 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁.
Do It Legally: life-shaping legal documents and services

05/06/2026

Today's Government consultation may eventually lead to the unfairness faced by bereaved unmarried partners ending at some point in the future, but in the meantime it remains vital for cohabitees to have Wills in place to protect loved ones. Find out why in our latest Blog post.
https://doitlegally.co.uk/cohabiting-couples-do-not-automatically-inherit-without-a-will/

Cohabiting Couples Do Not Automatically Inherit Without a Will. Proposals by the UK Government to strengthen the legal rights of unmarried cohabiting couples have been welcomed by family lawyers across England and Wales. However, while…

01/05/2026

𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲

Today marks the start of 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵, launched by The National Will Register. Throughout May, individuals and legal professionals can register wills free of charge, saving the usual £30 fee.

This initiative highlights an often-overlooked part of estate planning: ensuring a will can be found when it’s needed most.

Recent findings from the 2025 National Wills Report show:

* Only 37% of UK adults have made a will
* Over half of people don’t know where their parents’ wills are stored
* Yet 79% now feel comfortable discussing end-of-life planning

There’s clear progress in awareness — but a gap remains when it comes to practical steps.

The register itself does not store the will, but securely records where it is held, helping executors and beneficiaries locate the document at the appropriate time, subject to verification requirements.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀
A professionally prepared will is only effective if it can be located. Registering its location is a simple step that can help reduce uncertainty and avoid additional stress for loved ones.

At Do It Legally, we support clients not only in preparing wills, but in considering the broader picture of estate planning — including secure storage and appropriate registration.

If you’ve already made a will, this is a good opportunity to review how it is stored and whether its location is clearly recorded. We can help you review your Will and make sure that it meet your needs.

Free Will Registration Month runs until 31 May 2026

07/03/2026

07/03/2026

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆: 𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻

This International Women’s Day, we’re highlighting an important but often overlooked issue – many women in the UK still do not have a will in place.

A common reason is the belief that a will is only necessary if you have significant wealth. In reality, a will is about much more than that. It ensures that your wishes are respected and that the people you care about are protected.

If someone dies without a valid will, their estate is distributed according to the rules of intestacy. These rules determine who inherits and may not reflect an individual’s personal circumstances – particularly where there are unmarried partners, blended families, or children involved.

Having a properly drafted will allows you to decide who should inherit your assets, appoint executors, and make arrangements for minor children. It can also help reduce uncertainty and stress for loved ones during an already difficult time.

International Women’s Day is about empowerment and independence. Taking steps to plan for the future, including making a will, is an important part of that.

If you would like advice about preparing or updating a will, our team would be happy to help.

20/02/2026

Our new services made the news this week: Our Will writing services include Islamic Wills / Wasiyah in addition to Wills written under general English & Welsh law, Scottish law, and our Living Wills (Advance decisions).

We offer a wide range of Legal Documents and Services from Brighton and Hove, in addition to Will writing.

Local legal firm Do It Legally has announced the launch of a dedicated Islamic Will (Wasiyah) service for Muslim residents in the Brighton & Hove area during the holy month of Ramadan, lasting until 18th March 2026.

17/02/2026

𝗥𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 (𝗪𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘆𝗮𝗵).

Many Muslim families don’t realise that without a valid Will, your estate is distributed under UK intestacy rules — not according to Shariah inheritance principles. Putting a Shariah-compliant Will in place protects your loved ones, reduces stress, and ensures your wishes are honoured.

At Do It Legally, we’ve worked with the Muslim community in London and Brighton & Hove for over 25 years. We understand both the UK legal requirements and the Islamic principles that matter to you. We provide Islamic Wills from Brighton and Hove.

We offer:
✅ Shariah-compliant Wills valid under UK law
✅ Clear and respectful guidance
✅ Home, office or remote appointments
✅ Fixed fees — £250 single / £300 couples — no guesswork

Ramadan is the month of intention — take this important step for your family.

📩 Message us today to arrange to make your Islamic Will in Brighton with us.

17/02/2026

Gong Xi Fa Cai! 🧨 Wishing you prosperity, good health, and continued success this Chinese New Year. Thank you for trusting us with your legal document needs.