Making a Will is simple. There are a few ways to do it:

• Online – the questionnaire only takes ten minutes to complete
• By post – download the form and send it back to us
• By phone – call and speak to us
• In person – come and speak to us in one of our national offices.

We recommend our online or postal service if your estate is relatively straightforward. If you have more complex requirements, or you’d like to talk about tax-planning or asset protection options such as setting up a trust, we advise speaking to us on the phone or coming in to see one of our experts.

Everyone’s circumstances are different, but some of the things to consider when making a Will are:

• The value of your estate – inheritance tax (IHT) is generally due on anything over the £325,000 threshold (£650,000 for married couples and civil partners) once mortgage and other debts are deducted
• A new IHT allowance of £125,000 may apply if you own a property and leave some of your estate to relatives like children and grandchildren.
• How you own your assets – if you co-own property with your spouse, the type of tenancy you have will affect whether or not they can continue to live there after your death
• Who you want to leave your assets to (i.e. your beneficiaries)
• Who you would like to be the executors of your estate
• Whether some assets would be best placed in a trust for asset protection purposes.

These are important decisions to make, and you should seek legal advice to make sure your estate is structured in the best way for you and your beneficiaries.

Our Wills Checklist helps make sure you’ve got everything covered.

Inheritance Tax (IHT) is a tax on the value of the assets that you own – your estate - when you die.
 
If you have a life interest or right to income in certain types of trusts, IHT can sometimes apply to these trusts’ assets as well. It can also be charged on any gifts to a trust that you’ve made in your lifetime.
 
IHT is taken from your estate before any assets are distributed between your successors. In some cases, certain assets might have to be sold to pay the tax.
 
There are a number of reliefs and allowances that reduce the amount of IHT that your estate must pay. For example, assets that you leave to a spouse or partner are exempt from IHT.
 
We can help you make the most of these reliefs and allowances and ensure that your successors can benefit from as much of your estate as possible.

Yes – we can advise on how to structure your Will to make sure any tax will be as low as possible. There are different ways you can reduce your inheritance tax bill, including:

• Leaving money to charity
• Setting up trusts
• Giving away parts of your estate while you are still alive.

Preparing for inheritance tax is essential so that the value of your estate is not drastically reduced for your loved ones. With effective estate planning you can make sure your wealth is protected for the next generation – our lawyers and tax advisers can advise on the best way to do this.

Estate planning combines legal, tax, and financial planning to help you manage and protect wealth for the future.

Whether you want to preserve income for later life or provide for your family once you’re gone, estate planning can help. Our solicitors can make sure that you and your family benefit as much as possible from your wealth for years to come

Successful estate planning ensures a smooth transfer of assets while paying only as much tax as is absolutely necessary. Inheritance tax is often the focus, but capital gains tax, income tax, and Stamp Duty Land Tax are all important too.

An international estate with assets or family members in different countries adds an extra layer of complexity to the planning process, especially for tax. We handle international estates for clients all over the world and have the detailed knowledge you need to manage your wealth efficiently.