Tax, Wills and Probate

Wills & Succession planning

The rules that apply should you die without making a Will, or where the will you made does not deal with all your assets, are inflexible and can often lead to uncertainty as to who might benefit from your estate.  It is therefore important to execute a Will and review this regularly should your circumstances change.

In order to prepare your Will we will consider the nature and value of your estate and carry out a full financial assessment of the full extent of your assets. We will be guided by you as to how your estate should devolve and suggest how your objectives may be achieved.

Typically, our clients refer to us for our expertise in:

• Passing assets through the generations, especially for non-conventional family units
• Advising business clients and individuals so that they take advantage of all available tax reliefs and exemptions (business/agricultural property relief, spouse or civil partner and charity exemption)
• Residence and Domicile status and how complexities in this area can affect succession matters
• Routing any pension death benefits and life assurance proceeds outside of your taxable estate
• Advising on the suitability of including trusts (for example immediate post death interest and/or discretionary) in your Will where the devolution of your estate necessitates more complex drafting
• Setting up one or more pilot trusts to receive assets gifted by your Will
• Tax planning through nil rate band discretionary trusts and maximising the availability of any transferable nil rate band
• Protecting young members of the family or those with a disability
• Inheritance tax and capital gains tax mitigation
• Advising clients whose personal circumstances have changed through certain life events such as marriage/civil partnership, the birth of a child and divorce
• Consideration of devolution issues for unmarried and/or co-habiting couples

We have experience of building relationships with other professionals, such as accountants, and can work with them to find the best possible outcomes when planning your estate.

We take a detailed view of all circumstances to give the best possible advice, balancing the emotional and practical concerns of our clients.  Our aim is to give you practical advice so that those who you wish to provide for after your death, are provided for, whilst doing so in the most tax efficient way.

Please contact Matthew Duncan on 020 7814 1200 or mduncan@kingsleynapley.co.uk for more information on the services we provide.