JD Wills and Estates

JD Wills and Estates Live in Leicestershire? We'll come to you. Live elsewhere? We’ll Zoom. Get your Will sorted - face-to-face, by a real Barrister. Free advice. No pressure. Wills. LPAs.

Trusts. Estates Planning
Richard Jordan | Barrister-at-Law

This one catches a lot of loving couples completely off guard.Most couples do the sensible thing. They leave everything ...
03/09/2026

This one catches a lot of loving couples completely off guard.

Most couples do the sensible thing. They leave everything to each other, and then to the children once they are both gone. It feels the safest option, and for plenty of families it is exactly right.

But picture this. One of you passes away, and everything goes to the survivor, just as planned. Years later that survivor remarries, or writes a new will, or simply falls out with one of the children. The estate is now theirs to do with as they wish, and the children you both wanted to look after can quietly be left with nothing. It even has a name in our world.

Sideways disinheritance.

A trust can prevent it. Your share can be set aside so your other half is fully provided for during their lifetime, and then whatever is left passes to your children, exactly as the two of you intended. Nobody is left short, and your wishes hold firm whatever happens down the line.

This matters even more in blended families, where there are children from more than one relationship to consider.

Today's question. If you left everything to your other half and life took an unexpected turn, are you certain your children would still be looked after?

Comment or send me a message if this is something you have wondered about.

This is the worry I hear more than almost any other.You work hard, you pay off your home, and you picture it one day pas...
02/09/2026

This is the worry I hear more than almost any other.

You work hard, you pay off your home, and you picture it one day passing to your children. Then care becomes necessary, and the bill starts to climb.

In England, if you need residential care and own your home, its value can be counted towards what you pay. For most families, the home is the biggest thing they own.

Here is the part worth knowing. With the right planning, a share of your home can be placed in a trust so it is protected for your children, whatever happens later on. This is not about dodging fees or hiding money, and anything done deliberately to avoid care costs can be challenged. It is about setting things up properly, early, and for the right reasons, so your home does the job you always meant it to.

Whether it fits your situation depends on your circumstances, and that is exactly what the questionnaire is built to work out. Richard can then talk you through what actually applies to you.

So today's question. If care were needed one day, do you know what would happen to your home, and who would be left to sort it all out?

Comment below or send me a message if you would like to understand your options.

A quick hello, because it has been a little while.If you have made a will, you have already done something most people n...
01/09/2026

A quick hello, because it has been a little while.

If you have made a will, you have already done something most people never get round to. It is a real weight off the mind.

But here is the part that catches a lot of families out: a will decides who inherits. It does not always decide whether they get to keep it.

Care fees. A divorce down the line. A child who hits money trouble. A second marriage years from now. Any one of these can quietly eat into what you spent a lifetime building, even when your will is completely valid.

That is where trusts come in, and it is why I am so pleased to share some news. We have partnered with Countrywide Tax and Trusts, which means every client can now sit down with a short questionnaire that looks at your family, your assets and your wishes, and shows the protections that actually fit your situation.

No guesswork, and nothing you do not need.

Over the next few days I will walk through some of the everyday situations where a trust makes a real difference, and how you can keep more of your allowance for the people you love.

For now, one question worth sitting with. If something happened to you tomorrow, are you confident that what you leave behind would reach the people you intend, and stay with them?

Have a think, and do pop a comment below or send me a message if any of this rings true.

Writing a will isn't a one-size-fits-all exercise.That's why we've partnered with a specialist tax and trusts company.Be...
03/07/2026

Writing a will isn't a one-size-fits-all exercise.

That's why we've partnered with a specialist tax and trusts company.

Before we even start, you'll complete a straightforward questionnaire. That generates a personalised report based on your own circumstances, so there's no guesswork and no generic advice.

It helps make sure your will is right for you, your family and your future.

If you've been meaning to get your will sorted, or it's been a while since you reviewed it, feel free to get in touch. 😊

If you've been putting off writing your will, you're not alone. But getting it sorted doesn't have to be stressful.For m...
02/07/2026

If you've been putting off writing your will, you're not alone. But getting it sorted doesn't have to be stressful.

For many people, writing a will has been sitting on the to do list for months, sometimes even years. Life gets busy and it's easy to keep putting it off.

That's why we come to you.

If something happened tomorrow, would the people you love know exactly what you wanted?

How long has "sort my will" been on your to-do list? 🤔For most people, it's not that they don't want to do it - they jus...
01/07/2026

How long has "sort my will" been on your to-do list? 🤔

For most people, it's not that they don't want to do it - they just don't know where to start.

That's why we offer home appointments across Leicestershire. We'll come to you, explain everything in plain English, and help you get your will and lasting powers of attorney sorted.

No jargon. No pressure. Just a straightforward conversation.

If you've been meaning to get it done, send me a message. 😊

Did you know that 'common law marriage' isn't legally recognised when it comes to inheritance?A very common myth is that...
30/06/2026

Did you know that 'common law marriage' isn't legally recognised when it comes to inheritance?

A very common myth is that if you've lived with your partner for years, they will automatically inherit your estate if you pass away. In reality, without a valid will, the law decides who gets what - and cohabiting partners are often left with nothing.

It’s a heartbreaking situation that is easily avoided with a simple, properly drafted will.

Would your current plan hold up when it matters most for your partner?

It’s a conversation we often put off, but helping your elderly parents organise their estate is one of the greatest acts...
29/06/2026

It’s a conversation we often put off, but helping your elderly parents organise their estate is one of the greatest acts of care you can offer.

We often worry about our parents' health as they get older, but their legal protection is just as important. If they don't have an up-to-date will or a Lasting Power of Attorney, managing their affairs later can become incredibly complicated. Having a relaxed, face-to-face talk with an estate planning specialist in the comfort of their own home can make the whole process simple, warm, and completely stress-free.

You've worked hard to build what you have. Have you made sure it actually goes to your children and grandchildren, rathe...
28/06/2026

You've worked hard to build what you have. Have you made sure it actually goes to your children and grandchildren, rather than the taxman?

Through our partnership with a national tax and trusts specialist, we help families protect their hard-earned assets from generational inheritance tax. By creating the right structures now, you can ensure your home and savings are passed down safely without leaving your family with an avoidable tax bill. We start with a simple, face-to-face chat right here in Leicestershire to outline your options clearly.

Are you certain everything is covered to protect your estate from unnecessary tax?

Many people assume their partner can automatically make decisions for them if they fall ill. But legally, that isn't the...
27/06/2026

Many people assume their partner can automatically make decisions for them if they fall ill. But legally, that isn't the case.

Without a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in place, your loved ones might have to apply to court just to pay your bills or make medical decisions on your behalf. It's a lengthy, stressful, and expensive process at a time when your family is already dealing with enough. Sorting an LPA alongside your will ensures that the people you trust most have the legal authority to step in immediately if you ever need them to.

Would your family know what to do if you were suddenly unable to make decisions yourself?

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414 Welford Road
Leicester
LE26EJ

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+441163552171

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