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Recruitment - Hindle Campbell Law

Thank you for your interest in Hindle Campbell Law.

We are based in North Shields Tyne and Wear. Hindle Campbell Law has grown substantially in the last year and continues to progress, we are always on the look out for the right individual to help build on the firms continuing success. We are committed to developing our staff and would be pleased to hear from highly motivated team players looking to enjoy a rewarding career with us.

General Recruitment:

We are happy to receive speculative CV’s. Although we are unable to respond directly to speculative applications, they will be held on file for future reference.

Applications by post:

Please provide a short introduction, indicating the position you wish to apply for and attach a copy of your CV.

The Practice Manager
Hindle Campbell Law
8 Northumberland Square
North Shields NE30 1QQ

Please provide a short introduction, indicating the position you wish to apply for and attach a copy of your CV.

Email to: lawyer@hindle-campbell.co.uk

Hindle Campbell Law is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community irrespective of age, sex, race or disability.

Anita Swift

Posted on

Writing your own Will – is it valid?

When you think about a Will or estate planning, people often assume it’s something only the elderly consider.  The recently reported case of ‘The Wanted’ singer Max George (‘Max’) has again highlighted that everyone should consider if their affairs are in order regardless of their age.  Max was aged just 36 when he opened up about his fear of his own mortality, having been admitted to hospital for heart surgery to fit a pacemaker in December 2024. During January 2025, social media was buzzing with reports, including the BBC[1] and Sky News[2], that the singer had made a Will on his phone. This fear and panic spurred him into action but it raises the question: would Max’s mobile phone Will have been legally valid?

The criteria for the valid execution of a Will are defined in Section 9 of the Wills Act 1837[3]. There is more than one way in which this can be achieved, but generally, the Will must be in writing, made by a person over the age of 18 (the ‘Testator’) intending this document to amount to a Will; it must be signed by the Testator (or an agent on their behalf); that signature must be made or acknowledged in the presence of two witnesses present at the same time, and that each of those witnesses must also have signed the Will. Though some flexibility was temporarily added during the COVID-19 pandemic for Wills executed before 31 January 2024, these fundamental principles surrounding the valid execution of a Will still stand.

Therefore, would Max’s phone Will have been legally valid? Thankfully, it never came to pass but if a Will does not meet the legal requirements outlined by law, it will not be valid. This means that the Testator’s wishes will not be honoured and their intentions, no matter how well meaning, will be void, leaving the chosen beneficiaries potentially very disappointed.  This could result in potentially costly and arduous legal disputes involving disgruntled family members and others.

We recommend that you consult and instruct a Solicitor to prepare a suitable Will that validly gives effect to your wishes. As part of this process, you can also be advised upon protections for blended families, underage or disabled beneficiaries, care home fees and Inheritance Tax. To discuss making or updating your Will, please contact our team on 0191 296 1777 or email us at advice@hindle-campbell.co.uk

[1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgrnd38ryeo

[2] https://news.sky.com/story/the-wanted-star-max-george-recalls-moment-he-wrote-will-from-hospital-bed-before-heart-surgery-13287692

[3] https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26/section/9