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Estate Planning

When you have spent a whole lifetime building up your personal wealth, you want to think that upon your death your estate will pass into the hands of your chosen beneficiaries and not into the hands of the Taxman.

And yet, all too often we meet clients who are shocked at how much of their inheritance is taken from them before they even see it! At present rates, the Taxman can take up to 40% of your estate! Yes almost half its value!

Inheritance tax (IHT) used to be referred to as a ‘voluntary tax’ for the very wealthy, but with the recent dramatic increases in property values without a corresponding increase in the IHT threshold, many more estates have come within of the Taxman’s reach.

This makes estate planning all the more necessary – and all the more urgent.

There are a number of ways to reduce the potential tax liability on your estate, but they all involve careful planning – often over a long period.

Lifetime gifts, the judicious use of trusts, and care with transfer of agricultural and business property can all help to reduce IHT liability.

It is also possible to mitigate potential inheritance tax liabilities by arranging adequate life assurance cover.

We can help you with your estate planning, including succession planning and business exit strategies.

We can also help with the drafting and updating of your will, and where appropriate, act as trustees or executors.

today to discuss how we can help you preserve as much of your wealth as possible for your chosen beneficiaries. But don’t leave it too late!

Few of us like to think about dying, but equally few of us could live with the thought that we have not made adequate provisions for family and friends who survive us.

The legislation that governs passing on your estate to your chosen beneficiaries requires you to plan well in advance. Since none of us knows when we shall die, this means making the necessary provisions now.

The earlier you make the arrangements, the greater your chance of taking full advantage of the tax opportunities available and thereby maximizing the amount that goes to your beneficiaries. Nothing is more demoralizing than the thought that a substantial slice of the wealth you have worked hard to accumulate will end up in the Government’s coffers!

It is equally important when planning to transfer your estate that you make adequate provisions for yourself and your spouse in your later years. Striking this balance calls for considerable skill and foresight – and detailed knowledge of the tax regime.

We provide a discreet estate planning service that includes:

  • Help with drawing up and reviewing your will
  • Making full use of exemptions and lower tax rates on lifetime transfers
  • Optimizing lifetime transfers between spouses
  • Transferring agricultural or business property
  • Transferring assets into the trust
  • Arranging adequate life assurance to cover potential inheritance tax liabilities

We strongly advise you to begin your estate planning right away by

Contact us for a preliminary review.

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Please contact us if you need further advice, have any questions about our services, or would like a free consultation or a fixed quote.