Trusts & Estate Planning

Legal and financial issues often go hand in hand. This is especially true when it comes to trusts and estate planning. Our financial advisers are experienced in dealing with practical solutions for what can be a very complicated subject. We also have legal experts on hand who can provide legal advice and a tax & trusts lawyer who can provide specialist advice, if required.

If you would like to arrange an appointment to see one of our advisers, please click here or contact Richard Ludlow on (01780) 764145 or Tim Barker on (01205) 351114.

Trustee Investments

The Trustee Act 2000 imposes various legal obligations on trustees particularly when it comes to investing trust money. The obligations equally apply to Attorney’s or Charities. You are required, amongst other things, to ensure that Trust investments are suitable, appropriately diversified and reviewed regularly. There is also an obligation to take investment advice.

Tax is also an important consideration as different tax rules apply to different trusts. Some investments are more suitable to one particular type of trust than another.

We can help you to construct a suitable investment portfolio taking into account the type of trust and the aims and objectives of the trust. We can also review existing trust investments.

Beneficiaries

If you are a beneficiary, do you know what you are entitled to from the trust? Are you receiving valuations of the trust investments? Are you receiving less income and don’t know why?

We can review your position and check that the trust is being run in accordance with the obligations imposed by the Trustee Act 2000.

Tax Planning

Trusts are generally set up to protect or determine the future direction of an asset and/or to reduce tax. Different trusts have different consequences and we can discuss with you whether the use of a trust is appropriate for your particular circumstances and if so, advise you as to the most suitable type of trust.

Estate (Inheritance Tax) Planning

The aim of estate planning is to mitigate or avoid the impact of inheritance tax and to ensure that your assets are passed down to your chosen beneficiaries in a tax efficient way.

The current threshold for inheritance tax is £300,000 (Tax year 2007/08) and the current rate of tax is 40% on all assets above this figure although there are a number of exemptions and allowances.

We can review your financial circumstances, advise you of any potential inheritance tax liability and discuss the options available.

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