People are living longer than ever before and the need to protect accumulated wealth for your own use, or to pass on to your heirs, is vital. House price inflation means many homeowners fall into the Inheritance Tax net and with more and more people buying second homes, in the UK or abroad, there is increased need to use specialist advice to protect estates.
Wills
The process for drawing up a Will is generally far more straightforward than most people believe. It is an action that can provide you with the knowledge that, in the event of your death, your wishes can be acted on promptly and in a timely manner. It also ensures that the distribution of assets can be undertaken quickly and efficiently to provide security for your family.
We can advise on the drafting and updating of Wills to ensure that as your circumstances change, your Will continues to reflect your wishes. Where relevant we will give advice on potential Inheritance Tax allowances and reliefs.
Elderly client services (incl. Trusts and Power of Attorney)
Trusts provide considerable scope to pass on assets or reduce tax liability by placing the asset outside of your estate. We can act as Trustees on your behalf or draft Trust documentation to place the Trusteeship with your nominated individuals.
A financial decisions lasting Power of Attorney allows you to place the day-to-day administration of your finances with an Attorney, if your health is poor or your mental faculty prohibits you from attending to financial affairs. A lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Care Decisions allows you to provide an Attorney with the necessary authority to make decisions regarding medical or other welfare issues if you do not have the mental capacity to make such decisions for yourself.
We will explain how these documents can be best used to support your circumstances and will draft them in accordance with your wishes.
Probate and administration of estates on death
We will provide advice with understanding and sensitivity when winding up and administrating estates. We can establish whether it is necessary to obtain a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration to allow assets to be collected and distributed in accordance with the wishes of the deceased.
Where appropriate, the service includes tax saving advice to ensure the estate is passed on, in as efficient a manner as possible, to the beneficiaries.