Advice

When you die who gets that special something?

Emily Spencer Emily Spencer
1 min read
This blog is more than 5 years old

If you want your Jewellery to be left to someone in particular once you have passed away, there is no place better to include this information than in a legally binding will.

The Daily Mail’s recent news article https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9198053/Businesswoman-loses-6million-inheritance-battle-against-late-aunts-friend.html highlights that verbal promises and expressed wishes are no match for a valid will. The article explains how Julia lost a court case against her deceased aunt’s friend (Neil) who inherited her aunt’s entire estate, including Jewellery that was ‘promised on a skype call’ to Julia. It appears from the article that Julia’s deceased aunt did not gift her the jewellery in her will but did express to Neil that she would like him to give Julia items of the Jewellery on special occasions.

If Julia’s aunt had wanted Julia to be legally entitled to receive any of her jewellry then she should have included a gift or trust in her will to that effect. If she had, it would have prevented the expense and time spent on a court hearing to clarify Julia’s legal entitlement to the jewellery.

Our advice: Have a will that clearly states your wishes to avoid any confusion for your loved ones in the future.

Client feedback

I found Winstons to be a highly professional, efficient and compassionate firm of solicitors. The original estimate of fees for dealing with a complex probate matter including the sale of a property and dealing with inheritance tax proved to be very close to the final amount charged. At all stages throughout the process I was kept well informed of progress and was consulted whenever necessary. All correspondence was polite and pertinent, and my wishes were acted upon promptly. I would have no hesitation in recommending Winstons to others and would readily use their services myself in the future should the need arise.
Anonymous
Recently I have used the services of Winston Solicitors to deal with my wife's estate and to update my will. In both cases everything was explained in straightforward language and so was easy to understand. Things were dealt with promptly and I was always kept informed of progress. The friendly approach of members of the team made a difficult situation much easier to deal with. My family will certainly seek the services of Winstons when required in the future.
David
We are very grateful to Emily and all at Winston Solictors who have gone above and beyond and been so helpful and professional. All queries were responded to quickly and it really felt llike a personal service, tailored to me. We are extremely grateful to them for everything.
Katherine
Emily SPENCER gave me a helpful and timely and efficient update of my will, problem free.
David
The work was done in a timely & professional manner
Anonymous
Emily Spencer helped us review & redraft our wills. From start to finish Emily was very efficient and helpful. She explained legal issues. Very clearly for us. We would highly recommend her.Many thanksLouise Elliott
Louise
Aged 91 I needed to rewrite my will and transfer my affairs from a city-centre solicitor to one more accessible for myself and my executors. Winston proved an ideal choice. Emily was most helpful and efficient with the will, and I am confident that my estate will be dealt with just as well.
David
I recently had my will written by Winston's Solicitors, and I couldn't be happier with the experience. From my very first contact with the firm, every member of staff was professional, courteous, and attentive to my needs.The solicitor who handled my will took the time to explain everything clearly, making sure I understood each part of the process and felt confident in the decisions I was making. There was no rushing or jargon — just clear, patient guidance through what can often feel like a daunting task.What stood out most was the consistent professionalism across the entire team, from initial enquiry to the final signing. It's clear that client care is a genuine priority at this firm, not just a tagline.I'd happily recommend Winston's Solicitors to anyone looking for a trustworthy, knowledgeable, and professional team to handle their will or other legal matters. Thank you for making the process so straightforward and stress-free.
Richard
Contact us