  |
 |
 |
 |
Simon Nightingale Partner |
Richard Llewellyn Consultant |
Sarah Wilkins Legal Executive |
Caroline Townsend-Green Consultant |
The Private Client Department deals in a confidential and sympathetic manner with all aspects of a private individual’s legal affairs, liaising closely with our other departments, in particular Property, Family Law and Dispute Resolution to provide the broad range of specialist advice required by our clients as necessary.
We provide an efficient and timely service for the drafting of Wills. There are many good reasons for making a Will, which can provide for the surviving family, ensure that your wishes are carried out and minimise the tax burden that may be suffered by your estate. As a beneficiary, you do not have to accept a gift from a Will and it often makes sense from an Inheritance Tax point of view for a spouse to redirect assets to others by a Deed of Variation or Disclaimer.
Inheritance disputes are becoming increasingly common. Careful preparation of a Will can help to avoid future problems but our Dispute Resolution team are experts in dealing with current disputes.
Inheritance Tax has been described as a “Voluntary Tax”. It is “voluntary” if action is taken soon enough and, in most cases, this means an individual gifting assets in a specific way. The Private Client team can advise on the most appropriate way forward.
Trusts in the past may be have mainly used to preserve assets for future generations. Today, trusts are used more often to preserve the value of assets against Inheritance Tax or to provide for a particular family member who is unable to manage his or her affairs. The owner of a family company may also wish to place shares in trust in order to retain voting control whilst passing on benefit to the next generation. A Disabled Trust may be set up to deal specifically with the needs of a disabled family member.
The elderly client needs to consider the need not only for a Will but also for a Lasting Power of Attorney and possibly an Advance Directive (or Living Will).
The cost of residential care is a matter of particular concern to many clients. Marshalling and individual’s assets to meet these costs in a sympathetic way is a task often provided by our Private Client team. We also have expertise in continuing healthcare and local authority funding to assist clients in planning for their long term care.
Existing clients of the Private Client team receive advice and support on the above and other issues, Our clients come from both within the UK and from abroad.
Our team of experts provides comprehensive, confidential and sympathetic advice on every aspect of the law relating to clients throughout the UK and abroad.
email :karen @ hlf-law.co.uk
Tel : 0800 043 0538
Download our brochure
 |
 |
 |
