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Kelly Armstrong Estate Planning Kelly Armstrong Estate Planning | Wills, Trusts & Lasting Powers of Attorney | Birtley, UK

Be honest… how many times have you said, “I’ll sort that eventually”? 👀The garage.That cupboard everyone has.Booking the...
02/10/2026

Be honest… how many times have you said, “I’ll sort that eventually”? 👀

The garage.
That cupboard everyone has.
Booking the dentist.
Sorting your Will.

And for plenty of people, making an LPA is somewhere on that list too.

The problem is that an LPA is one of those things you need to arrange while you still have the mental capacity to make one.

If capacity has already been lost and there isn’t an appropriate LPA in place, your family can’t simply create one for you afterwards. Depending on the circumstances, an application to the Court of Protection may be needed for someone to obtain authority to make certain decisions.

That’s why I’d much rather see someone put an LPA in place years before they ever need it than leave it until it’s too late.

You might never need your attorneys to step in — and hopefully you won’t.

But knowing the people you chose and trust are there if life takes an unexpected turn?

That’s a pretty good reason to finally move it off the “I’ll do it later” list.

One looks after YOU. The other can look after the practical side of your life.There are actually two different types of ...
30/09/2026

One looks after YOU. The other can look after the practical side of your life.

There are actually two different types of Lasting Power of Attorney in England and Wales, and they cover very different decisions.

🏡 Property and Financial Affairs can cover things such as managing money, paying bills and dealing with property.

❤️ Health and Welfare can cover decisions around your care, where you live and aspects of medical treatment.

There’s also an important difference in when they can be used.

A Health and Welfare LPA can only be used when you’re unable to make the particular decision yourself. A Property and Financial Affairs LPA can, if you choose, be used while you still have capacity once it has been registered.

You can make one type or both, depending on what’s right for you.

It sounds complicated written down, but once somebody talks you through it properly, it makes a lot more sense.

And that’s exactly what I’m here for. 😊

If someone had to step in and make decisions for you tomorrow, would they actually have the authority to do it?That’s es...
28/09/2026

If someone had to step in and make decisions for you tomorrow, would they actually have the authority to do it?

That’s essentially what a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) helps you plan for.

An LPA allows you to choose people you trust — known as your attorneys — to make certain decisions on your behalf if needed.

And it’s not something that’s only relevant later in life.

An accident, illness or unexpected change in circumstances can happen at any age. Having an LPA in place means you’ve already decided who you trust to act for you, rather than leaving your family trying to work out what happens next.

Importantly, you must have the mental capacity to make an LPA when you set it up — so it really is something to think about before you need it.

We insure our homes, cars and phones against things we hope never happen.

An LPA is another way of planning for the unexpected.

Kelly Armstrong Estate Planning
Making the important conversations feel a little easier.

Sometimes the best part of my job is seeing the relief when everything is finally sorted.Estate planning is one of those...
25/09/2026

Sometimes the best part of my job is seeing the relief when everything is finally sorted.

Estate planning is one of those jobs people can put off for months — sometimes years.

Not because they don’t care, but because life gets busy. Or they don’t know where to start. Or talking about Wills and what happens after we’re gone simply feels a little uncomfortable.

Then we sit down, talk through what actually matters to them, answer the questions they’ve been worrying about and put the right plans in place.

Suddenly, something that felt daunting becomes something they can tick off the list.

That’s what I want the experience at Kelly Armstrong Estate Planning to feel like.

No unnecessary jargon. No making things more complicated than they need to be.

Just a friendly conversation, clear guidance and the reassurance of knowing you’ve taken the time to plan ahead for the people you care about.

Because estate planning isn’t really about paperwork. It’s about people.

Trusts aren’t just something you hear about in films involving millionaires and country estates.That’s probably one of t...
23/09/2026

Trusts aren’t just something you hear about in films involving millionaires and country estates.

That’s probably one of the biggest misconceptions around them.

In simple terms, a Trust is a legal arrangement where trustees look after assets for the benefit of one or more beneficiaries.

Depending on someone’s circumstances and the type of Trust involved, they can be used for reasons such as controlling when and how assets are passed on, providing for younger beneficiaries or supporting someone who may need help managing an inheritance.

But this bit is important: a Trust isn’t automatically the right choice for everyone.

Different types of Trust have different legal, tax and administrative consequences, which is why proper advice and careful planning matter.

Estate planning shouldn’t be about making things unnecessarily complicated.

It should be about finding the arrangement that makes sense for you and your family.

Your Will might be sitting safely in a drawer. But does it still reflect your life today?A lot can change after you make...
21/09/2026

Your Will might be sitting safely in a drawer. But does it still reflect your life today?

A lot can change after you make one.

You might get married or divorced. A new child or grandchild might arrive. You could buy a home, sell one, lose someone named in your Will or simply change your mind about what you want to happen.

That doesn’t necessarily mean starting again every few months.

But it does mean your Will is worth reviewing after significant life changes and periodically even when everything seems settled.

One particularly important point: in England and Wales, marriage will normally revoke an existing Will unless that Will was specifically made in contemplation of that marriage.

Your Will should reflect the life you have now, not the life you had when you first signed it.

When did you last look at yours?

“I don’t own a huge amount. Do I really need a Will?”This is one of those questions I hear a lot.A Will isn’t only about...
20/09/2026

“I don’t own a huge amount. Do I really need a Will?”

This is one of those questions I hear a lot.

A Will isn’t only about leaving behind a large house or lots of money.

Think about everything else that matters: who receives your belongings, who deals with your estate, what happens to your share of certain assets and, if you have children under 18, who you would like to appoint as guardians if needed.

Without a valid Will, your estate is distributed according to the intestacy rules — and those rules don’t know your family or your wishes.

So no, you don’t need to be wealthy for a Will to be worth thinking about.

Sometimes it’s simply about making things clearer and easier for the people you leave behind.

Have an estate-planning question you’ve always wondered about? Pop it in the comments or send me a message — I might cover it in the next FAQ. 👇

A Will and a Trust aren’t two different names for the same thing.They can both form part of estate planning, but they do...
19/09/2026

A Will and a Trust aren’t two different names for the same thing.

They can both form part of estate planning, but they do very different jobs.

A Will sets out what should happen to your estate after you die, including who you would like to inherit and who should deal with your estate.

A Trust is a legal arrangement where assets are held and managed by trustees for the benefit of specified beneficiaries. Depending on the type of trust, it can operate during your lifetime or after your death.

So which one do you need?

That depends entirely on your circumstances. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer — and a Trust certainly isn’t automatically “better” than a Will.

Sometimes the right answer is surprisingly straightforward.

Not sure what would actually suit your family? Get in touch and we can talk it through.

Living together for 10 years doesn’t automatically give you the same rights as being married.It’s something I find many ...
18/09/2026

Living together for 10 years doesn’t automatically give you the same rights as being married.

It’s something I find many couples are genuinely surprised to hear.

There’s no such thing as a “common-law marriage” in England and Wales simply because you’ve lived together for a certain amount of time.

And when it comes to your Will, your relationship status can make a big difference too.

For example, getting married will normally revoke an existing Will unless it was made in contemplation of that particular marriage. On the other hand, an unmarried partner won’t automatically inherit under the intestacy rules just because you’ve been together for years.

It’s not the most romantic conversation to have — but making sure the person you love is properly provided for is a pretty important one.

If your circumstances have changed recently, it could be worth checking whether your Will still does what you think it does.

Kelly Armstrong Estate Planning
Helping you plan for the people who matter most.

🔐 A Trust isn’t just about money — it’s about having a plan for what matters most.You’ve probably heard the word “Trust”...
13/09/2026

🔐 A Trust isn’t just about money — it’s about having a plan for what matters most.

You’ve probably heard the word “Trust” before, but what does it actually mean?

In simple terms, a Trust is a legal arrangement where assets are held and managed by trustees for the benefit of chosen beneficiaries.

Depending on the type of Trust and your circumstances, they can be used to:

👨‍👩‍👧 Provide for loved ones — including children or vulnerable beneficiaries.
🏡 Plan for assets — and how they are managed for the future.
🛡️ Set conditions or greater control — over how and when beneficiaries receive assets.
🌱 Plan ahead — with different types of Trust available for different circumstances.

But Trusts aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. The rules, tax implications and level of control can vary significantly depending on the type of Trust being considered.

That’s why understanding what you want to achieve is the important first step.

💭 Family. Security. Future. Opportunities.
Where would your signpost point?

📌 Save this post for later and follow Kelly Armstrong Estate Planning for straightforward information about Wills, Trusts and Lasting Powers of Attorney.

📩 Get in touch if you’d like to discuss whether a Trust could be appropriate for your circumstances.

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