Private Client

A **Will** ensures your assets are distributed exactly as you wish and allows you to appoint **Executors** to manage your estate and **Guardians** for minor children. Without a Will, your estate follows strict, impersonal **Rules of Intestacy**, which may exclude your chosen beneficiaries.

If you die intestate, the law dictates who inherits your property, usually prioritizing your spouse/civil partner and direct descendants. This can lead to delays, complexity, and often means money goes to relatives you did not intend to benefit, or necessitates expensive court applications.

An **Executor** is responsible for collecting the assets, paying any debts/taxes, and distributing the estate. A **Trustee** takes over if assets are held in a Trust (e.g., for minor children) and manages those assets long-term according to the terms of the Trust deed.

**Probate** is the legal process of validating the Will and granting the Executors authority to deal with the deceased's assets. It is required when the deceased owned assets (like property or large bank accounts) solely in their name above a certain value threshold.

IHT is a tax on the estate (property, money, and possessions) of someone who has died, above a certain tax-free threshold (Nil-Rate Band). We advise on legitimate strategies, such as gifting and using trusts, to mitigate or reduce your estate’s IHT liability.

Yes, a Will can be challenged on several grounds, including **lack of valid execution** (witnessing), **lack of testamentary capacity** (the testator didn't understand the Will), **undue influence** (coercion), or if it fails to make reasonable provision for dependants (under specific legislation).

An LPA is a legal document that allows you (**the Donor**) to appoint trusted individuals (**Attorneys**) to make decisions on your behalf if you lose mental capacity. There are two types: one for **Property & Financial Affairs** and one for **Health & Welfare**.

Joint accounts only cover limited funds and do not allow your spouse/partner to manage property sales, pensions, or investments. If you lose capacity without an LPA, your loved ones must apply to the court for a costly and time-consuming **Deputyship Order**.

A Trust is a legal arrangement where assets are held by **Trustees** for the benefit of named **Beneficiaries**. Trusts are highly effective for IHT planning, asset protection from care home fees (subject to rules), and controlling when and how younger beneficiaries receive funds.

Yes. We specialize in complex estates involving foreign assets, business interests, complicated IHT calculations, and contentious beneficiaries. We handle the entire process, including HMRC submissions, asset liquidation, and final distribution.

CGT is a tax on the profit you make when you sell or dispose of an asset that has increased in value (e.g., investment properties, shares). Your primary residence is usually exempt, but we provide expert advice on minimizing CGT on secondary property sales and investments.

**Yes, absolutely.** Getting married or entering a civil partnership automatically **revokes** any previous Will unless it was made specifically in contemplation of that marriage. Divorce **cancels** provisions made for an ex-spouse but does not revoke the entire Will, requiring careful review.

The process involves drafting the document, signing it in the correct order (Donor, Attorneys, and Certificate Provider), and formal registration with the relevant government body (e.g., the Office of the Public Guardian). We manage the entire legal execution and registration process.

Yes. Our team handles the legal aspects of transferring ownership of estate property, whether it is being transferred to a beneficiary, retained by a surviving joint owner, or sold on the open market following the grant of probate.

**Schedule a confidential wealth and asset review with our Private Client team.** We will analyze your current circumstances (Wills, property, investments) and develop a legally sound strategy to minimize tax and ensure your family's financial security for the future.