The boogeyman under the bed - a Halloween horror story

23 Oct 2026

"Daniel had a folder.

It lived under his bed, tucked behind a box of old photographs and a suitcase he never used.

Inside was his Will.

He'd written it at 29, when he was single and renting a flat. Everything was left to his parents and his brother.

Back then, it made perfect sense.

Over the next few years, life moved on.

He met Chloe. They bought a house. They got married and had a baby girl.

Daniel often thought about that folder.

He told himself he'd update his Will when things calmed down.

They never did.

One day, Daniel died suddenly.

Chloe found the folder under the bed. She felt a flicker of relief. At least he had a Will.

But then came the twist.

Daniel's marriage had revoked his old Will.

Legally, it was as if it had never existed.

Instead, the rules of intestacy applied. Chloe couldn't simply inherit everything, and part of the estate had to be set aside for their daughter.

Chloe was left dealing with grief, a legal process she didn't expect and a plan Daniel never intended.

The thing Daniel had been avoiding hadn't disappeared.

It had just been waiting under the bed."

The lesson

A Will isn't something you write once and forget about.

Life changes, and your Will needs to change with it.

In England and Wales, getting married or entering a civil partnership will usually revoke an existing Will, unless it was made with that marriage in mind. That means a Will written years ago may no longer do what you think it does.

When should you review your Will?

It's a good idea to review your Will after any major life event, such as:

• Getting married or entering a civil partnership
• Getting divorced or separating
• Having children or grandchildren
• Buying or selling a property
• A significant change in your finances
• The death of a beneficiary or executor

Even without a big change, it's worth checking your Will every few years to make sure it still reflects what you want.

What happens if your Will is out of date?

If your Will has been revoked or no longer reflects your wishes, your estate could be dealt with under the rules of intestacy or go to people you never intended.

Not sure what would happen? You can read our blog 'What happens if you die without a Will?' to find out more here.

Don't let your paperwork become a horror story.

Daniel meant to sort his Will. He just never got round to it.

Reviewing your Will doesn't need to be scary, and a professionally prepared Will can help make sure your wishes are up to date, legally valid and ready when your loved ones need them.

Want to put a Will in place or review your existing one?

Our Wills, Trusts and Probate team at Sort Legal can help you make sure your Will still reflects your life today.

Get in touch with our team today and discover your options.

Telephone: 0333 323 1091

Email: wtp@sortlegal.co.uk

All names in this story have been created to help tell the story. No real names have been used.