Morecambe Bay Wills and Estates Limited

05/06/2026

Some things are hard to talk about… but leaving it too late makes it harder for everyone.

Nicola shares an important message in today’s reel — we’ve supported families trying to put Wills in place in the final days of a loved one’s life.

It’s emotional. It’s stressful. And it’s a situation nobody ever plans to be in.
Making a Will isn’t about paperwork — it’s about giving yourself peace of mind and protecting the people you love when they need it most.

If your Will has been sitting on your “I’ll get round to it” list, let this be your gentle reminder to take that step.

When the time comes, most people want to be surrounded by family and love — not legal decisions and uncertainty.

If you would like some friendly, supportive guidance, we are always here to help.

03/06/2026

You may have heard that a couple can pass on £1 million without inheritance tax.
That can be true.

But it’s not automatic — and it depends on how things are set up.
Here’s how it works in practice:
Each person has a £325,000 nil-rate band.
That can be passed to a spouse and combined — giving £650,000.
There is also an additional £175,000 residence nil-rate band per person —but this only applies if:
• You pass your main home to direct descendants (such as children or grandchildren)
• Your estate is within certain limits (it can reduce for larger estates)

When both allowances apply fully, a couple can potentially pass on up to £1 million free of inheritance tax.
But there are important conditions.
We often see situations where:
• A Will hasn’t been structured to make full use of the allowances
• Assets don’t pass in a way that qualifies for the residence allowance
• Estates exceed the thresholds where allowances begin to taper
• Previous arrangements mean allowances haven’t been preserved
In those cases, the £1 million figure doesn’t apply in the way people expect.
This isn’t about complexity for the sake of it. It’s about making sure that what you believe will happen… actually does.

If you would like clear, transparent and informed advice, we are always here to talk things through — at your pace, with no pressure.

03/06/2026

We always love sharing knowledge in sessions like these. Thanks to Unique Kidz & Co for hosting us

If your company, group or charity would like us to pop along and chat to your members please get in touch.

We talk about why having these really important documents in place is the kindest thing you can do for your loved ones. And share lots of stories about what goes wrong if you don’t!

01/06/2026

Sometimes, people think writing a Will or putting Powers of Attorney in place is “just paperwork”.

But for many families, it can mean the difference between clarity and conflict.

Jane has seen first-hand what can happen when wishes aren’t written down clearly. Families can fall out, relationships can break down, and disagreements after somebody has passed away can leave lasting hurt that can never truly be repaired.

The same can happen when someone loses the ability to speak for themselves. Without Powers of Attorney in place, the people left behind may be forced to make difficult decisions without knowing for certain what their loved one wanted.

That’s why these conversations matter.

Having your wishes clearly documented isn’t about expecting the worst — it’s about protecting the people you love most and helping families remain families during some of life’s hardest moments.

29/05/2026

One of the questions we’re often asked at Morecambe Bay Wills is:
“Can you visit us at home?” The answer is absolutely yes.

We understand that making a Will can sometimes feel like a sensitive or emotional subject, and for many people, having that conversation in the comfort of their own home simply feels easier and more relaxed.

At-home appointments are something we particularly valued too — often over a cup of tea and without the pressure or formality that some people worry about.

We offer home visits across South Cumbria, North Lancashire and North Wales, and we always try to make the process as supportive, comfortable and straightforward as possible.

If an at-home appointment would make things easier for you or a loved one, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Appointments - South Cumbria, North Lancashire - 01524 571032
Appointments - North Wales - 07901 867007

27/05/2026

A really important discussion recently featured on BBC Morning Live around Inheritance Tax, Wills and the growing number of families now being affected.

The programme highlighted new HMRC figures showing that families paid a record £8.5 billion in Inheritance Tax in the last tax year alone.

One of the key reasons behind this rise is that the Inheritance Tax threshold has remained frozen since 2009, despite rising property prices and inflation — meaning more and more ordinary families are now finding themselves affected.

As discussed on the programme, many people assume Inheritance Tax “doesn’t apply to them” until they actually sit down and look at:
• their home
• savings
• pensions
• investments
• life insurance
• business interests

The discussion also touched on something we speak about often at Morecambe Bay Wills — the importance of simply starting the conversation.

Not because anyone enjoys talking about death or finances, but because planning ahead can make things significantly less stressful for the people you leave behind.

The programme explained:
• the current £325,000 nil rate band
• the additional residence allowance available in some circumstances
• gifting rules and the seven-year timeline
• the importance of keeping Wills updated as life changes
• why cohabiting couples can face very different outcomes to married couples

While the programme offered some really useful guidance and helped raise awareness around Inheritance Tax and estate planning, there are often subtle aspects and personal circumstances that can mean different advice may be appropriate for different families. That is why it is always essential to take advice that is tailored to your own individual circumstances.

One comment from the programme summed it up perfectly:

“Think about it as a little bit of life admin.”

And in many ways, that really is what good estate planning is — making sure your wishes are clear, your loved ones are protected and your affairs are organised properly.

Importantly, having a Will is not just about money.

It is about clarity, reducing uncertainty, protecting family relationships and making an already difficult time a little easier for those left behind.

Source: BBC Morning Live

26/05/2026

Just a reminder for our FREE event tomorrow in supporting and working with Unique Kidz & Co - please do come and see us.
We are here to help.

A message from the team at Unique Kidz & Co
We’re really pleased to be welcoming our supporters Morecambe Bay Wills and Estates Limited to Unique Kidz & Co for our first FREE Parent & Carer Information Evening 💜
📅 Wednesday 27th May
🕖 7pm
📍 Unique Kidz & Co
This relaxed and informative evening will focus on:
• Why having a Will is so important for parents and carers
• Understanding Powers of Attorney
• Planning ahead for the future with confidence
• Practical advice and the chance to ask questions in a friendly environment
No pressure. No jargon. Just helpful information from people who understand how important it is to protect the people we love 💜
These evenings are completely FREE to attend and open to all parents and carers. Please let us know you are coming here - https://www.trybooking.com/uk/GGPH

We’re really pleased to be welcoming our supporters Morecambe Bay Wills and Estates Limited to Unique Kidz & Co for our first FREE Parent & Carer Information Evening 💜

📅 Wednesday 27th May
🕖 7pm
📍 Unique Kidz & Co

This relaxed and informative evening will focus on:
• Why having a Will is so important for parents and carers
• Understanding Powers of Attorney
• Planning ahead for the future with confidence
• Practical advice and the chance to ask questions in a friendly environment

No pressure. No jargon. Just helpful information from people who understand how important it is to protect the people we love 💜

These evenings are completely FREE to attend and open to all parents and carers. Please let us know you are coming here - https://www.trybooking.com/uk/GGPH

25/05/2026

A really powerful discussion recently featured on BBC Radio 4’s Money Box programme, highlighting something we see far too often — families simply not having conversations about what happens when someone dies.

The programme explored new research from STEP (The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners), which found:
• 80% of adults have not told their loved ones their wishes
• Around 35% do not have a Will at all
• Nearly half of estate professionals are seeing an increase in disputes within blended families following a death

One story shared during the programme centred around a husband and father who very nearly lost his life in a devastating car accident. Thankfully he survived, but the experience became a huge wake-up call for the family around the importance of estate planning, updating their Will and having open conversations.

One line from the interview particularly stood out:

“The main thing is don’t do nothing.”

At Morecambe Bay Wills, we completely understand that conversations around death, Wills and Powers of Attorney can feel uncomfortable or overwhelming. But very often, putting plans in place is not really about paperwork — it is about protecting the people you love from additional stress, uncertainty and conflict later on.

And importantly, estate planning is not just for the wealthy.

If you own a home, have children, savings, pensions, business interests or simply want your wishes respected, these are things worth thinking about.

The programme also touched on something very important — life changes.

Relationships change, children grow up, families blend, people remarry, circumstances evolve. A Will should not simply be written and forgotten about forever.

Sometimes the hardest part is simply starting the conversation.

Source: BBC Radio 4 – Money Box Programme

23/05/2026

Aldcliffe Road, Open Garden for The Olive Branch. Open until 3 today …

22/05/2026

Wishing Georgia a very Happy Birthday for the weekend from all the team at Morecambe Bay Wills 🎉

With her birthday coming up on Sunday 24th May, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate someone who has become such an important part of the team since joining us back in November 2021.

From speaking with clients and helping put people at ease, to preparing important documents and ensuring everything is carefully organised and safely stored, Georgia plays a huge role behind the scenes every single day.

Nicola said:

“Georgia is a very important part of our team, whether that’s answering calls from clients to preparing documents for them to sign or to making sure that they are safely stored away, everything she does is so important to our success.”

Thank you for everything you do, Georgia — we hope you have a fantastic birthday weekend and get thoroughly spoiled! 🎂