For individuals
Wills, tax and trusts
Simply, if you have children, are a homeowner or have a share in a business, it is essential you have an up-to-date will and plan for the future.
James McMullan
Herman Cheung
Charlotte Barbaroussis
Will drafting and estate planning contain many pitfalls, and we strongly recommend using our teams’ knowledge and expertise to draft yours.
We provide practical advice regarding the executors of your will, inheritance tax and death duties. We can act as your executor or trustee in UK wills and trusts and make no additional charge for acting as an executor.
Our clients range from professionals to retirees, trustees, executors, administrators, banks and beneficiaries. With over 45 years of experience in estate, trusts and tax planning, you can trust us to advise you on the most efficient and effective way to arrange your affairs.
We have a broad knowledge of trusts and can help you establish, manage, and administer lifetime trusts, will trusts, and asset protection trusts. These trusts can be essential tools in passing wealth on to the next generation. We can also advise you on home equity release plans and lifetime gifts.
Our head of department and private client partner, James McMullan, is an associate member of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers, and private client solicitor Herman Cheung is a fully accredited member. James and Herman are also members of the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (STEP), whilst trainee solicitor Charlotte Barbaroussis is an affiliate member of STEP. James is also a member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS).
We understand you may require a more discreet setting or a home visit to provide instructions. Therefore, we can arrange to meet you in the comfort of your home or at your care home or hospital in or around Central London. Click here for more information.
Articles
Estate planning: How not to make mincemeat of it! – March 2025
Six tips to make things simple for your executors – February 2025
What are trustee responsibilities? A guide to key duties and best practices – December 2024
RIAA Barker Gillette (UK) urges families to plan ahead to minimise Inheritance Tax – August 2024
Legal jargon in wills: understanding your will – July 2024
Key aspects of the Chancellor’s March 2024 Spring Budget – March 2024
We’re proud to support Update Your Will Week 2024 – 4 to 10 March 2024
Why make a will? – February 2024
Six Common Inheritance Tax Myths – December 2023
Charities, gifts and inheritance tax – December 2023
Chancellor’s autumn statement ended with a flourish – November 2023
Can you obtain an Emergency Power of Attorney? – November 2023
Protecting your business should you lose mental capacity – October 2023
Death of a shareholder – September 2023
Estate planning for blended families – August 2023
The Intestacy Rules Update – July 2023
Step-families and succession planning – June 2023
When is a gift of the family home, not a gift? – April 2023
Home visits for wills, LPAs and other sensitive topics – February 2023
What is a trust? – November 2022
HMRC deadline dispensation for trustees – October 2022
The benefits of having a will – August 2022
HMRC impose new obligations on trustees – August 2022
Not just for a rainy day – June 2022
Inheritance Tax account IHT100 forms changes – June 2022
What are your children’s inheritance rights? – April 2022
The effects of Covid-19 on inheritance tax – February 2022
Make your will the top of your list – April 2020
How to pass £1m to your children IHT free – April 2020
Too poor for retirement? – November 2018
Islamic Wills in England and Wales – September 2018
At a glance
- Creating lasting powers of attorney for a business client to ensure fast and efficient cover for his business in the event of his ill health.
- Drafting and creating a lifetime discretionary trust for a disabled beneficiary to ensure that he had the necessary structure and support in place to provide for his protection when his primary carers (his parents) pass away.
- Advising and assisting wealthy individuals, business owners and middle-class families with moderate wealth to put in place tax-efficient wills and restructuring their affairs to mitigate inheritance tax.
Intestacy Rules
Practice areas
- Deeds of variation
- Duties and responsibilities
- Estate administration
- Executors, trustees and administrators
- Home equity release plans
- Inheritance Act
- Lasting Powers of Attorney
- Lifetime gifts and trusts
- Validity challenges
- Will trusts
- Wills and codicils