CORE SERVICES
The wrong will can cost more than no will at all
Wills with the wrong trust structure. LPAs drafted without considering what they actually need to cover. Documents prepared without understanding the tax position. These aren't rare, they're what we're asked to fix regularly.
We draft wills and LPAs for complex estates. Fixed fee. Properly done.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Most will errors go unnoticed. Until someone dies
The wrong trust structure
A discretionary trust written into the residuary estate, including the main residence, forfeits the Residence Nil Rate Band entirely. It's a common drafting choice. It's also frequently the wrong one.
Documents drafted without tax context
Solicitors and will-writers who don't model the inheritance tax position before drafting can't make informed structural choices. The document looks fine. The tax position isn't.
LPAs that don't reflect the full picture
Business interests, foreign assets, complex investments, standard LPA guidance often fails to address what actually matters for your situation.
A RECENT EXAMPLE
One change to a widow's will. An immediate £122,200 reduction in the inheritance tax her estate would face, on today's figures.
ESTATE VALUE £2,089,000 · EXISTING WILL
The existing will contained a discretionary trust over the residuary estate, including the main residence. Under this structure, the Residence Nil Rate Band was forfeited in its entirety, producing an avoidable inheritance tax liability of £575,600.
Converting to an Immediate Post-Death Interest trust restored her residence nil rate band and the allowance transferred from her late husband. Her estate's current inheritance tax exposure reduced to £453,400.
Immediate inheritance tax reduction: £122,200
The new will has been signed. An immediate £122,200 reduction in the inheritance tax her estate would face, on today's figures.
WHO WE HELP
Four situations we deal with regularly
Not people who simply don't have a will. People whose existing documents may be working against them.
Existing wills that haven't been reviewed against the current tax position
Rules around the Residence Nil Rate Band, trust structures and pension nominations have changed significantly. A will drafted five or more years ago may now be doing the wrong thing.
Estates approaching or above the inheritance tax threshold
Where inheritance tax is likely relevant, the structural choices in the will matter considerably. We model the position before advising on structure.
Blended families and second marriages
Standard will structures routinely create conflict between a surviving spouse's needs and children from a prior relationship. The right trust structure resolves this, the wrong one creates it.
Estates with business interests or property held in multiple ways
How assets are owned affects how they pass, how they're taxed and whether certain reliefs apply. These decisions need to be made before the will is drafted.
FEES
Fixed fees. Drafted with the tax position in mind
Foundation Protection
Mirror Wills + 4 LPAs
£1,895
Mirror wills and four LPAs, drafted together with the estate structure considered throughout.
- ✓Mirror wills (both partners)
- ✓Property & Finance LPA ×2
- ✓Health & Welfare LPA ×2
- ✓Guardianship and estate passing coordinated
- ✓Priority turnaround
- ✓Digital vault storage
Family Protection
Trust Wills + 4 LPAs
£2,795
Mirror trust wills, four LPAs and up to two appropriate will trusts.
- ✓Mirror trust wills (both partners)
- ✓Includes up to 2 trusts
- ✓Property & Finance LPA ×2
- ✓Health & Welfare LPA ×2
- ✓Complex estate protection
- ✓Asset protection strategies
Need a single will, mirror wills, or a standalone LPA?
OPG registration fees are payable separately at the prevailing rate.
Independent will storage: £100 per annum. Included with Estate Care.
Considering a lifetime trust? Explore Trust Planning & Coordination. For whole-estate tax planning, see Inheritance Tax & Succession Planning or Estate Preservation.
CASES WE'VE DEALT WITH
Real situations, anonymised
No names. Accurate situations.
ESTATE £2.1M · EXISTING WILL WITH TRUST · RNRB FORFEITED
A will contained a discretionary trust that caused the Residence Nil Rate Band to be forfeited entirely. Identified on review. The new will has been signed. Her residence nil rate band and the allowance transferred from her late husband were restored. An immediate £122,200 reduction in the inheritance tax her estate would face, on today's figures.
BLENDED FAMILY · SECOND MARRIAGE · FAMILY HOME JOINTLY OWNED
A standard mirror will would have left the surviving partner's estate exposed and created conflict with children from a first marriage. A trust will resolved both issues without disinheriting anyone.
BUSINESS OWNER · COMPANY SHARES · NO SUCCESSION PLANNING
Company shares passed outright under the existing will with no consideration of Business Relief conditions or how they interact with the inheritance tax position. Restructured on redraft.
Every situation is different. These come up regularly.
THE PROCESS
How we work
We understand your position first
Your assets, how they're held, your family structure and whether inheritance tax is relevant, before we discuss documents.
We advise on structure, then draft
The structural choices inform the drafting. Documents sent for your review before anything is finalised.
Executed and stored properly
Witnessing guidance, execution supervision where needed and secure digital storage.
Sometimes a will alone isn't enough
If your estate is above the inheritance tax threshold, you own a business, you're in a blended family, or your assets span multiple countries, the structural questions go beyond will drafting. That's where our specialist services come in.
Explore specialist services →Ready to get this sorted?
Fixed fee. Plain English. We draft everything and guide you through signing.
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