An elderly man, after reading a newspaper report of a widow being evicted from a house, because she was not a beneficiary in a will, is now taking steps to write a new will.

He said he was sad to have read about the poor woman's plight, but said her experience was an eye-opener for him, and should be for all adults.

"I was reading a newspaper the other day when I discovered a widow was being evicted from the home she shared, for many years, with her late husband, he said.

"I am 78 years old, and five years ago I made a will, leaving my properties to my three children. The matrimonial home, I left to my youngest daughter because she lives abroad. When I made the will, I said to myself that my daughter would not throw my wife out of the house, if I should die before her.

"Now that I read what happened to that poor woman, I am changing my will, because you just cannot trust people, not even your own children. My children's mother died 20 years ago, and I got married five years after her death. My children love my wife but she is not their mother, so I have to be careful what I do.

"I want my wife to live in the matrimonial home and get all the money I have in my bank account. I am not saying that my daughter is not a reasonable person, but my father used to say, when it comes to "dead lef" things, you cannot trust people.

"I spoke to my brother, who is a justice of the peace, on the will situation. He agreed with me that I should change my will and make sure my wife is protected. I am now going to make another will for my wife to live in the house, until she dies, and after that the house must go to my daughter. My wife has been very good to me, and it would be a shame if I failed to provide for her, in the event of my death, and she ends up being thrown out of the house like that poor old lady. It is my view that old people should be allowed to live in comfort and peace," he said.

Many people are afraid to make a will, but this is the only way of ensuring that your loved ones get what you want them to get when you die. A will cannot be by word of mouth because some people do not honour such wishes. The Wills Act states that any person, 18 years and over, can make a will.