• Probate
• Wills
• Contested Estates
• Setting up and running Trusts
• Lifetime Tax Planning
• Deeds of Arrangement
• Property Transfers
• Advising charities
• Assisting law and accountancy practices on specialist areas
• Taxation implications of marriage breakdown.

Where appropriate, we recommend and work with other professional advisers, including counsel, stockbrokers and financial advisers.

TOP TEN TIPS

1. Make a will. The use of trusts within a Will could save tax as well as providing properly for your family’s future.
   
2. Consider gifts to your husband/wife. This may enable him/her to make better use of his/her own tax allowances and reliefs.
   
3. Make use of your annual exemptions for Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax.
   
4. Consider creating trusts of life insurance to take the benefit outside your estate for Inheritance Tax purposes. This could save Inheritance Tax on your death.
   
5. For children consider favoured trusts to enable them to use their own tax allowance. Ask about our Accumulation & Maintenance trusts and bare trusts for children.
   
6. Give away interests under trusts. Some trust interests may be given away, for instance to the next generation, with little or no tax to pay.
   
7. Consider varying or disclaiming interests under a Will or intestacy. There is a two year period from the date of death for this. So do not delay! Prompt action can save tax.
   
8. Review your Will regularly. Changes may be necessary as a result of changes in personal or financial circumstances. Always make sure that your Will is an accurate reflection of your current wishes.
   
9. Make sure you have appointed guardians who will look after your children under 18 in the event of your death. This is especially important where you are not married to the other parent of the child.
   
10. Consider an Enduring Powers of Attorney which can be used to appoint an attorney or attorneys to deal with your financial affairs in event of absence abroad, or intervening physical and mental incapacity.
    

If you are interested in any of the above please contact us for further information.