Services for you

Without a will you have no control over what will happen to your assets. Having a will enables you to plan ahead. A well drafted will can take account of particular family circumstances  such as a second marriage, children who have financial or matrimonial problems, or a  beneficiary with a disability. As your circumstances change it is important to review matters. Marriage can revoke a will, the arrival of children or the death of an intended executor or beneficiary may require changes to be made to an existing will. A sudden inheritance could create a need for tax advice.

Sometimes parents provide money to assist their children buy a house or set up a business; to protect their investment good legal advice is essential. Their will may need to be reviewed to reflect the gift to that child . A trust deed may need to be signed by the parents and the child receiving the money to make sure that in the event of a problem, such as that child going through a divorce, the parents do not lose their money to a third party.

We understand that everyone’s circumstances are different. We work with you to make sure you have a will that is tailor made for you. We will advise you on all the options available to you. You will be given advice about the most tax efficient way of passing on your estate to the next generation.

We understand that succession planning can be difficult. There are usually different family interests to consider. What do you do if one child works in the business and one does not? How can you safeguard the business if your child gets divorced ?How can you treat children equally if you want one to inherit the business but not the other? What tax reliefs are available? How can you plan your exit from the business but retain some control?

We offer a complete service for business clients. We can advise you about the way in which your business interests can be dealt with and we can help you ensure your company documentation covers all eventualities. Shareholders often assume their shares will pass to the beneficiaries named in their will but this can only happen if the company documentation allows the shares to pass under the will. If you have business interests your will cannot be drafted in isolation .We work closely with our colleagues in our Company / Commercial department  and are able to offer a full service to our business clients.

It is important that your will is drafted by someone who understands the special factors relating to agricultural property. We are assisted by our colleagues in our agricultural property team to make sure a full range of options can be considered.

Family circumstances are key and we understand the desire of many of our farming clients to pass their business on to the next generation in a way that reduces the likelihood of family tension and which looks at all of the relevant tax implications.

Trusts can be used in a variety of circumstances. Trust arrangements allow you to provide for your family but still retain some control over when and how the beneficiaries receive the assets. This can protect the interests of your beneficiaries and a trust arrangement is a common choice for many parents who are concerned about the prospect of their children going through a divorce or facing money problems in the future.

Children with a disability can also be protected by the use of a trust in your will and it can help safeguard their right to state benefits. Existing trust arrangements need to be reviewed regularly. Trustees need to take into account changes in tax legislation or changes brought about by the death or retirement of a trustee or a change in a beneficiary’s circumstances.

We can advise trustees in connection with their obligations and duties and help ensure that they make informed decisions having been advised on all the possible options.

We have a specialist probate team  who can help guide you through the process of administering an estate. Good advice is essential as executors are personally responsible for ensuring the estate is administered properly.

Our expert team provide a caring and supportive service for executors and beneficiaries and have a wide range of experience so are able to assist with all matters relating to the administration of an estate.They can advise executors on tax planning opportunities and can help with any other technical issues that may arise  such as dealing with assets held abroad or maybe advice in connection with a family dispute. Whatever your requirements our team are here to help.