Whether your wishes are straightforward, such as leaving your estate to a spouse or civil partner, or involve more complex arrangements such as setting up or reviewing will trusts for children or vulnerable beneficiaries, we offer expert advice that reflects your personal and financial objectives.
Many people delay making their Will until it is too late. Without a valid Will, or with one that no longer reflects your current wishes, your estate may be distributed according to the legal rules of intestacy rather than in line with your intentions.
This can lead to unnecessary tax liabilities, family disputes and uncertainty for those you leave behind.
Our Wills and Succession Planning team ensures that your Will is both legally sound and aligned with your personal, family and financial circumstances. We advise on the following.
- Tax-efficient Will drafting and lifetime gifting strategies
- Appointing guardians for minor children and creating asset protection structures for younger beneficiaries
- Structuring inheritance for blended families or vulnerable beneficiaries
- Succession structures for business owners and family-owned enterprises
- Coordinating cross-border estate planning for international families
- Preserving landed estates through tailored succession planning, including the use of trusts and agricultural reliefs to ensure continuity across generations
Our specialist private client team advises on all succession matters, including the passing on of family businesses, landed estates and carefully accumulated wealth. We are experienced in dealing with the complexities of capital tax exemptions and reliefs and in providing tax planning opportunities to help protect your legacy across generations.
We also support clients with the administration of estates and trusts, including complex, high-value and multi-jurisdictional matters.
Should the unexpected arise, our expert team is well-versed in resolving disputes involving wills, trusts and inheritance claims. Our expert guidance can help you find a way forward while protecting your relationships and assets.
How we can help
Planning your legacy requires a considered approach. We combine technical expertise with a discreet and personal service. Whether you are making your first Will or reviewing complex succession arrangements, we provide clear and practical advice based on your individual requirements.
Recent experience
- Advising a long-term US-resident UK couple on a global estate plan involving UK tax structuring, the creation of five UK resident trusts and bespoke English Wills.
- Providing cross-border tax and succession advice to a high-profile sports person with assets across the UK, Serbia and the Channel Islands. Drafting complex wills to ensure asset protection and family provision, mitigating double taxation risks.
- Advising a non-UK resident high net worth individual with business interests across multiple jurisdictions on wills, domicile status and succession planning.
- Following the death of a business founder, advising on post-death tax planning as part of the probate process, including the preparation of a deed of variation, the formation of a charitable trust, and successful inheritance tax claims for business property relief and excess income.
