Nobody likes thinking about what happens when they're gone. But with the right estate plan, you can have peace of mind knowing your loved ones will be looked after – and your wishes will be carried out.
These are the questions we help our clients answer every day when it comes to estate planning.
If you don't have a will, the government decides what happens to your estate. Is that what you want?
With proper planning, you can significantly reduce – or even eliminate – the IHT bill on your estate.
Your will lets you appoint guardians and set up trusts to protect your children's financial future.
Gifts made during your lifetime can reduce inheritance tax, but timing and amount matter.
Business succession planning ensures your company continues smoothly and tax-efficiently.
Lasting Powers of Attorney let you choose who makes decisions about your finances and health.
Estate planning isn't just about tax – though that's important. It's about making sure the people you care about are looked after, and that your hard-earned wealth goes where you want it to go.
More than half of UK adults don't have a will. If you're one of them, the law decides who inherits your estate – and it might not be who you'd choose. Your unmarried partner gets nothing. Your stepchildren get nothing. And if you have young children, the court decides who looks after them.
But even if you do have a will, when did you last review it? Life changes – marriages, divorces, births, deaths, house moves, new businesses. Your will needs to keep up.
Inheritance tax is charged at 40% on estates worth more than £325,000 (or £500,000 if you're leaving your home to children/grandchildren). With proper planning, many people can reduce or eliminate this tax bill entirely.
We'll make sure you have a legally valid will that reflects your current wishes and circumstances.
We'll help you minimize the tax your family pays, using legitimate planning strategies.
Trusts give you control over how and when your assets are distributed.
Don't leave decisions about your money and health to chance. Choose who you trust.
Help your children and grandchildren without losing control of your wealth.
Ensure your business continues smoothly when you retire or pass away.
We'll discuss your family situation, assets, and goals. This helps us understand what you're trying to achieve and who you need to protect.
We'll calculate your potential inheritance tax liability and create a comprehensive estate plan that minimizes tax while protecting your loved ones.
We'll coordinate with solicitors, accountants, and other professionals to put your estate plan in place – and review it regularly as your circumstances change.
If you die without a will (called dying "intestate"), the law decides who gets what. Your unmarried partner gets nothing. Your stepchildren get nothing. And if you have children under 18, the court decides who looks after them.
The fix: Make a will. It doesn't have to be complicated or expensive, but it does need to exist.
DIY wills are cheap, but they're often invalid due to incorrect execution or ambiguous wording. This can lead to expensive legal disputes that cost far more than a professionally-drafted will.
The fix: Use a qualified professional to draft and witness your will properly.
Marriage automatically revokes your will (unless it specifically mentions your upcoming marriage). Divorce doesn't revoke it, but removes your ex-spouse as a beneficiary. New children, new houses, new assets – all need to be reflected in your will.
The fix: Review your will every 3-5 years, and always after marriage, divorce, births, or significant changes in assets.
Many people think inheritance tax only affects the very wealthy. But with house prices rising, more "ordinary" families are being caught out. A £500,000 house plus a £200,000 pension could easily trigger IHT.
The fix: Calculate your potential IHT bill and consider strategies like lifetime gifts, trusts, or life insurance to cover the cost.
While everything passing to a spouse is inheritance tax-free, it can actually increase the tax bill when the second spouse dies. It can also cause problems if your spouse remarries or develops dementia.
The fix: Consider using trusts or making use of both partners' tax-free allowances to minimize the overall tax burden.
Estate planning doesn't have to be morbid or complicated. We'll help you create a plan that gives you peace of mind – and protects the people you care about.
Initial consultation is completely free with no obligation.
