Sarah thought she was prepared.
Sitting in her sun-drenched living room in Littleover, Sarah, 45, sips her tea and looks at a dusty blue folder. Inside is a Will she signed ten years ago. Back then, her life was simpler. Her children were toddlers. Her "digital footprint" was barely a shadow. She hadn't yet met her second husband, Mark, or inherited her grandmother’s house.
Sarah isn't alone. Like many people seeking wills in Derby, she assumes that because she has "a document," she is safe. She believes the law will automatically understand her modern, messy, beautiful life.
She's wrong.
The brutal reality? Sarah’s future: and the future of her children: is currently governed by a piece of legislation written when Queen Victoria was just a teenager and the steam engine was the height of technology. It’s called the Wills Act 1837. And if you’re relying on an outdated Will, or no Will at all, this 189-year-old law could be the very thing that tears your family apart.
60% of UK adults do not have a valid Will. That is a staggering statistic. It means the majority of families in Derby are effectively playing Russian Roulette with their inheritance.
The Ghost of 1837: Why Your Signature Might Not Be Enough
When the Wills Act was drafted in 1837, life was different. People didn't have Bitcoin. They didn't have Facebook legacies. They certainly didn't have "blended families" in the way we do today. Yet, this ancient law still dictates exactly how a Will must be signed and witnessed to be legal.
Section 9 of the Act is the iron rule of Will writing. To be valid, your Will must be:
- In writing (usually paper: your "digital Will" stored on a laptop isn't worth the screen it’s written on).
- Signed by you in the presence of two witnesses.
- Signed by two witnesses in your presence.
Fail any of these steps, and your Will is a useless piece of paper. Absolutely nothing. I have seen families devastated because a well-meaning parent signed their Will without the right witnesses present. The result? The law treats you as if you never wrote a Will at all.
Your "Digital Life" is Dying: And the Law Doesn't Care
Sarah’s old Will mentions her house and her bank account. But what about the £5,000 in cryptocurrency she bought on a whim? What about the 15,000 family photos stored in a cloud account that only she can access? What about her thriving Etsy business?
The 1837 Act knows nothing of the internet.
If you don't explicitly handle your digital assets in a modern Will, they could be lost forever. Most tech giants have strict privacy policies. Without a "Digital Executor" appointed in your Will, your loved ones might spend years: and thousands of pounds: battling to unlock your accounts.
At Jackson Giles, we believe will writing services in Derby should look forward, not backward. We help you create a digital inventory, ensuring your digital legacy doesn't vanish into a "404 Error" when you're gone. Don't let your digital life die with you; protect your online legacy now.
The Blended Family Trap: A Recipe for Disaster
Sarah’s biggest realization came when she thought about Mark, her second husband. Her old Will leaves everything to her biological children. But if Sarah were to pass away tomorrow, the law might not see things so clearly.
Marriage cancels an existing Will. Did you know that? If Sarah and Mark married after she signed that blue folder, her Will is likely void.
In a "blended family" setup, the 1837 framework is dangerously rigid:
- Step-children have no automatic rights. Unless you name them specifically, they could be left with nothing.
- Intestacy rules are crude. Without a valid Will, the law follows a "one size fits all" formula that often ignores the people you love most.
- Joint assets can be tricky. Without careful planning, your children from a previous marriage could be accidentally disinherited if your estate passes entirely to a new spouse.
What really keeps estate planning professionals like myself awake at night is the thought of these avoidable family feuds. I’ve seen brothers stop speaking over a misunderstanding that could have been fixed with a single paragraph in a modern Will. The blended family dynamic requires a surgeon’s precision, not a Victorian sledgehammer.
Modern Life Needs Modern Wills
The world has changed, but the risks of poor planning remain the same. Using solicitors in Derby for wills can sometimes feel like stepping back into 1837: all jargon, mahogany desks, and "legalese."
That’s not us.
At Jackson Giles Legal Services, we make a difficult topic as easy as having a cup of coffee with a close friend. We take that 189-year-old law and make it work for your 21st-century life. No jargon. No hidden fees. Just clear, step-by-step guidance.
Why choose our modern approach?
- Tailored Protection: We don't do "cookie-cutter" templates. Your life is unique; your Will should be too.
- Digital Asset Planning: We ensure your passwords, photos, and crypto are secure.
- Jargon-Free Advice: We explain everything in plain English so you actually understand what you're signing.
- Transparent Pricing: You’ll know exactly what you’re paying from day one.
Our Pricing
- Single Wills: From £250
- Mirror Wills (for couples): From £350
Compared to the potential cost of a family legal battle or a lost inheritance, this is a small price for total peace of mind. You can find more about our will writing costs here.
The Good News? You Can Fix This Today
Sarah didn't wait. After realizing her old Will was a ticking time bomb, she gave us a call. We sat down, had a chat, and within a week, she had a modern, robust Will that protected Mark, her children, and her digital world.
The weight off her shoulders was visible.
Every day you delay is another day you’re leaving your family’s future to chance. Don't let an ancient law decide who gets your home, your savings, or your memories.
Whether you’re looking for wills in Derby for the first time or need to update a document that’s gathering dust, we’re here to help. Estate planning isn't about death: it's about love. It’s the final gift you give to the people who matter most.
Next Steps for Your Peace of Mind
- Check your current Will date. If it’s more than 5 years old, or your life has changed (marriage, kids, house move), it needs an update.
- Make a list of your digital assets. Don't forget those cloud subscriptions and social accounts.
- Book a coffee with us. Let’s chat about your family setup and how we can protect it.
Ready to bring your estate planning into the 21st century?
Contact Jackson Giles Legal Services today. Let's make sure your future is protected by a plan built for today, not 1837.
Give us a ring for a friendly chat, send us an email, or have a look around the website — whatever feels easiest.
Call us on: 01332 21 51 51
Email: info@jacksongiles.co.uk
Visit: jacksongiles.co.uk