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You’ve worked hard to build what you have. Whether that’s property, savings, a business, or simply a comfortable life for your family, it makes sense to protect it. Estate planning is about making sure your wealth goes where you want it to go, in the most tax-efficient way possible, while protecting the people and things that matter most to you.
Get a free, no-obligation chat with our wills and probate team, call us on 02920 829 100 or use our Contact us form.
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Estate planning isn’t something reserved for the wealthy. If you own a home, have savings, run a business, or simply want to make sure your family is looked after, getting your affairs in order now can save significant stress, cost, and tax down the line.
Without proper planning, inheritance tax could take a substantial chunk of what you leave behind. Your assets might not end up with the people you intended. And your family could face unnecessary delays, disputes, and legal complications at an already difficult time.
Our estate planning solicitors help individuals and families across Wales and the UK protect their wealth and plan for the future. We take a practical, straightforward approach: we’ll listen to what matters to you, explain your options clearly, and put together a plan that works for your circumstances. No jargon, no unnecessary complexity, just sensible advice you can act on.
Whether you’re thinking about inheritance tax, setting up trusts, protecting assets from care home fees, or making sure your business passes to the right people, we can help.
Ready for a free, no-obligation chat? Contact us today on 02920 829 100 or use our Contact us form.
Estate planning is the process of organising your financial and legal affairs to make sure your wealth is managed and distributed according to your wishes, both during your lifetime and after your death.
It’s about answering questions like:
A good estate plan brings together several elements: your will, any trusts you set up, Lasting Powers of Attorney, tax planning strategies, and business succession arrangements. These work together to protect your wealth and give you control over what happens to it.
Estate planning isn’t a one-off exercise. As your circumstances change, whether that’s marriage, divorce, the birth of grandchildren, buying property, or selling a business, your plan should be reviewed and updated. Wherever you are on your estate planning journey, we can help.
A properly drafted will is the foundation of any estate plan. We’ll make sure yours is legally valid, tax-efficient, and reflects exactly what you want to happen. For more complex situations, we can include trusts within your will to protect assets, provide for vulnerable family members, or manage how and when beneficiaries receive their inheritance.
With inheritance tax charged at 40% on estates above the threshold, getting the right advice can save your family a significant amount. We’ll review your situation and explain the options available, from making lifetime gifts to using trusts, maximising reliefs, and structuring your assets to reduce your tax liability.
Trusts can be a powerful tool for protecting assets, providing for family members, reducing tax, and maintaining control over how your wealth is used. We advise on all types of trusts, including discretionary trusts, life interest trusts, property protection trusts, and trusts for vulnerable beneficiaries.
Estate planning isn’t just about what happens after you die. A Lasting Power of Attorney ensures that if you ever lose the capacity to make your own decisions, the people you trust can step in to manage your finances and make decisions about your care.
If you’ve built a business, you’ll want to make sure it continues to thrive when you step back or pass away. We can help you plan for the future, whether that means passing the business to family members, selling to employees, or finding an external buyer, all while minimising tax and protecting your interests.
Life is unpredictable. Divorce, bankruptcy, family disputes, and care home fees can all threaten the wealth you’ve built up. We can advise on strategies to protect your assets from these risks while still allowing you to benefit from them during your lifetime.
The basic inheritance tax threshold (known as the nil-rate band) has been frozen at £325,000 since 2009, while property values and other assets have risen significantly. While the threshold can be increased (for example when a residence is left to descendants, or when someone can claim transferable nil-rate bands from a spouse/civil partner who has predeceased them, many families who never expected to have an inheritance tax problem now find themselves facing a substantial bill.
If your estate exceeds the threshold, 40% of everything above it goes to HMRC. For a couple with a family home worth £600,000 and other assets, that can mean tens of thousands of pounds in tax. With proper planning, much of this can often be avoided or reduced.
Without a valid will, your assets will be distributed according to the intestacy rules, which may not match your wishes at all. Unmarried partners, stepchildren, and close friends could receive nothing. Family members you’d prefer to exclude might inherit everything.
The way in which the intestacy rules operate when a spouse/civil partner and children survive you can lead to a significant amount of inheritance tax being payable, which would not be the case had a will been in place in favour of the spouse/civil partner, and assets tied up in trust for minor children.
Even with a will, disputes can arise. Estranged family members might challenge it. If you leave assets directly to children who are going through divorce, their inheritance could end up with an ex-spouse. If beneficiaries have debts or addiction issues, the money could be gone within months.
Good estate planning anticipates these problems and puts structures in place to protect against them.
One in three people over 65 will develop dementia. Many more will face other conditions that affect their ability to manage their affairs. If you haven’t put a Lasting Power of Attorney in place before losing capacity, your family will need to apply to the Court of Protection to make decisions on your behalf, a process that’s expensive, time-consuming, and stressful.
The cost of residential care can easily exceed £50,000 per year. Without planning, your savings and even your home could be used to fund your care, leaving little for your family. While we can’t help you avoid paying for care you need, there are legitimate steps you can take to protect some of your assets.
Estate planning isn’t just about writing a will. We look at the whole picture: your family situation, your assets, your business interests, your goals, and your concerns. Only then can we give you advice that actually fits your circumstances.
Tax law is complicated. Trusts can be confusing. We’ll explain your options in plain English, without the jargon, so you can make informed decisions. If something doesn’t make sense, ask, and we’ll explain it again.
Good estate planning often involves working alongside your accountant, financial adviser, or investment manager. We’re happy to collaborate with your existing team to make sure everyone’s working towards the same goals.
Your estate plan should be reviewed regularly, particularly after major life events. We’ll remind you when it’s time for a review and help you make any necessary changes.
We’ll start with a conversation to understand your situation, your family, your assets, and what you want to achieve. This might be a face-to-face meeting, a video call, or a phone conversation, whatever works best for you.
We’ll review your existing documents (wills, trusts, powers of attorney) and analyse your overall position. If inheritance tax is a concern, we’ll calculate your potential liability and identify planning opportunities.
We’ll explain your options and make clear recommendations. For each option, we’ll explain the benefits, the drawbacks, and the likely costs. You’ll have everything you need to make an informed decision.
Once you’ve decided how to proceed, we’ll draft the necessary documents, arrange for signing and witnessing, and handle any registration requirements. We’ll make sure everything is done properly.
Estate planning isn’t something you do once and forget about. We’ll be here when you need to make changes, when tax laws change, or when you just have a question.
Inheritance tax (IHT) is charged at 40% on the value of your estate above the nil-rate bands available (currently £325,000 for the basic threshold). For many families, particularly those with property ownership, this means a significant tax bill.
The good news is that there are legitimate ways to reduce your inheritance tax liability:
Everyone has a nil-rate band of £325,000. If you leave your home to direct descendants, you may also qualify for the residence nil-rate band (up to £175,000). Unused allowances can usually be transferred to a surviving spouse. For a married couple, this could mean up to £1 million passing tax-free.
Gifts made more than seven years before death are usually exempt from inheritance tax. There are also annual exemptions (£3,000 per year) and exemptions for gifts out of normal income. Giving money to family while you’re alive, rather than waiting until death, can significantly reduce the tax bill.
Placing assets in trust can remove them from your estate for inheritance tax purposes, while still allowing you to control who benefits and when. Different types of trusts suit different situations, and the tax rules are complex, so specialist advice is essential.
If you own a qualifying business or agricultural property, up to 100% relief from inheritance tax may be available. Recent changes have affected some of these reliefs, so getting up-to-date advice is particularly important.
While life insurance doesn’t reduce your inheritance tax bill, it can provide funds to pay it. A policy written in trust ensures the proceeds don’t become part of your estate and add to the problem.
A trust is a legal arrangement where assets are held by trustees for the benefit of beneficiaries. Trusts can be set up during your lifetime or created in your will.
Discretionary Trust Trustees decide who benefits and when, giving maximum flexibility. Useful for providing for a group of beneficiaries or where circumstances might change.
Life Interest Trust One beneficiary (often a spouse) receives income or the right to live in a property for life, with capital passing to other beneficiaries (often children) on their death.
Property Protection Trust Protects your share of the family home, ensuring it passes to your chosen beneficiaries even if your spouse remarries or needs care.
Bare Trust Assets are held for a specific beneficiary who has an absolute right to them. Often used for gifts to children or grandchildren.
Choosing a law firm is a big decision. You want experts who actually get you and your organisation, respond when you need them, and give you straight answers. That’s us. We’re one of Wales’ leading commercial law firms, and we do things a little differently.
You won’t be passed through layers of gatekeepers here. When you call, you’ll speak to the solicitor handling your matter. You’ll have their direct contact details and a genuine working relationship. Estate planning involves personal information and sensitive family dynamics, so knowing who you’re dealing with really matters.
We don’t work in silos. Our private client team works closely with our commercial, property, and tax specialists. If your estate planning involves business interests, property transactions, or complex tax issues, we have the expertise in-house to deal with everything together.
Devolved decision-making and flexible working hours mean we can move at pace. You’ll get faster responses, even outside regular office hours. If circumstances require urgent action, we can prioritise your case.
Getting to know our clients properly matters to us. Face-to-face meetings, regular catch-ups, and genuine personal service. We see estate planning as an ongoing relationship, not a one-off transaction. As your circumstances change, we’ll be here to help you adapt your plans.
You’ll always get the full picture from us. We’ll explain your options clearly, including any risks or downsides, so you can make informed decisions. No jargon, no hedging, just practical guidance you can rely on.
We’re the leading commercial law firm with offices in South and North Wales offering Welsh language legal services at every level, from trainees right through to partners. This isn’t an add-on or a tick-box exercise. It’s part of who we are. If you’d prefer to discuss your estate planning in Welsh, you’ll find that expertise right across our team.
We believe in proactive communication. When tax laws change, when new planning opportunities arise, or when it’s simply time to review your arrangements, you’ll hear from us. We also run regular seminars and send updates to keep you informed about developments that might affect your plans.
Professional, concise, proactive and efficient. Just what I wanted. My past experience with solicitors, in a professional capacity has not been great, so it has been a refreshing change. Chris Wood
Estate planning is the process of organising your financial and legal affairs to ensure your wealth is protected and distributed according to your wishes. It typically includes making a will, setting up trusts, putting Lasting Powers of Attorney in place, and planning to minimise inheritance tax. Good estate planning also considers business succession, protecting assets from care home fees, and ensuring your family is provided for in various scenarios.
If your affairs are straightforward, you might not need extensive advice. But if you own property, have a taxable estate, run a business, have a blended family, or have any complexity in your situation, professional advice can save your family significant tax, stress, and potential disputes. The cost of getting it right now is usually far less than the cost of getting it wrong.
Costs vary depending on the complexity of your situation and the work involved. A simple will might cost a few hundred pounds. A comprehensive estate plan involving trusts, tax planning, and business succession could cost several thousand. We’ll give you a clear estimate before starting any work, so you know what to expect. For most people, the tax savings alone far outweigh the costs of professional advice.
A will is one part of estate planning, but it’s not the whole picture. Estate planning looks at your entire situation: how you hold assets, what trusts might be beneficial, how to minimise tax, who should make decisions if you lose capacity, and how to protect your wealth from various risks. A will deals with what happens to your assets when you die. Estate planning deals with everything else as well.
Now. The best time to plan is while you’re fit and healthy, and while you still have time to implement tax-saving strategies that often take years to become fully effective. Waiting until you’re elderly, unwell, or facing an imminent crisis limits your options. That said, it’s never too late to make improvements, so even if you’ve delayed, getting advice now is better than waiting longer.
The basic inheritance tax threshold (nil-rate band) is £325,000. If you leave your home to direct descendants, you may also qualify for the residence nil-rate band of up to £175,000. Unused allowances can be transferred between spouses. For a married couple, this could mean up to £1 million passing free of inheritance tax. Anything above the available thresholds is taxed at 40%.
There are several strategies: making gifts during your lifetime (which may become exempt after seven years), using trusts, maximising available reliefs such as business property relief or agricultural relief, ensuring you claim all available nil-rate bands, and structuring your assets efficiently. The right approach depends on your specific circumstances, which is why tailored advice is essential.
A trust is a legal arrangement where assets are held by trustees for the benefit of beneficiaries. Trusts can help with tax planning, protecting assets from divorce or creditors, providing for vulnerable family members, and controlling when beneficiaries receive their inheritance. Not everyone needs a trust, but for many people they’re an important part of an effective estate plan.
To some extent, yes, if you plan early enough. Deliberately giving away assets to avoid paying for care (known as deprivation of assets) is not allowed and can be reversed by the local authority. But legitimate planning, done in advance, can help protect some of your wealth. The key is to act before you need care, and to get proper advice on what’s permissible.
We recommend reviewing your estate plan every three to five years, or sooner if your circumstances change significantly. Events that should trigger a review include marriage, divorce, the birth of children or grandchildren, buying or selling property, starting or selling a business, significant changes in wealth, and changes in tax law.
If you die without a valid will, your estate will be distributed according to the intestacy rules. These rules may not match your wishes. For example, if you’re unmarried, your partner might receive nothing. If you have children, your spouse might not receive everything. Making a will ensures your assets go where you want them to go.
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you lose mental capacity. There are two types: one for property and financial affairs, and one for health and welfare. Without an LPA, your family would need to apply to the Court of Protection to make decisions for you, which is expensive and time-consuming.
9 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9HA
Unit F12, InTec, Ffordd y Parc, Parc Menai, Bangor, LL57 4FG
We’re happy to meet clients at either office or arrange home visits where appropriate. We also offer video consultations for clients who prefer not to travel.
Estate planning gives you control. Control over what happens to your assets, who benefits from your wealth, and how much goes to HMRC. It gives you peace of mind knowing your family will be looked after and your wishes will be respected.
The sooner you start, the more options you have. Many tax-saving strategies take years to become fully effective, so acting now can make a real difference.
Contact us for a free, no-obligation chat to discuss your situation and how we can help.
Call us on 02920 829 100 or use our Contact us form.
To speak to one of our experts today, please contact us on 02920 829 100 or by using our Contact Us form for a free initial chat to see how we can help.
02920 829 100 
