Lifetime Planning

Planning for the future is very important, often we all leave things too late. Peace of mind is something that is hard to place a value on.

In addition to advising on inheritance tax issues (please see the Wills section) we can assist you with income tax and capital gains tax matters. We can help you complete your self assessment tax return and ensure that all of the appropriate exemptions and reliefs have been claimed for you.

Here are just some of the things we can advise you on:

• Lasting Powers of Attorney: A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you (the ‘donor’) appoint one or more people (known as ‘attorneys’) to help you make decisions or to make decisions on your behalf. This gives you more control over what happens to you if, for example, you have an accident or an illness and can’t make decisions at the time they need to be made i.e. if you lack mental capacity.  LPAs can be made for financial decisions or health and welfare matters.

• Long Term Care Planning: It's hard to imagine not being able to live in your own home, and look after yourself. Planning at the right time to make sure any care you may need in the future is covered without having to sell your home is important for some people. Find out more about the rules about paying for a permanent care home place.
   
• Living Wills: A Living Will can record your wishes with respect to certain medical procedures that are/are not to be employed on loss of mental capacity ("advanced directive"). Alternatively, a Living Will can record your beliefs on such procedures for the family to consider should a difficult decision with regard to your health have to be made ("non-advanced directive").
   
• Inheritance Tax Planning: When trying to minimise the inheritance tax payable on your estate by your beneficiaries, there are many different options depending on the circumstances. Subject to your particular situation, the size of your estate and various other factors, we can provide you with a list of options and their advantages and disadvantages.
   
• Trusts: A Trust is a fund which contains assets that are controlled by you and/or a nominated third party for the benefit of a specific individual(s). They are governed by complex legal regulations and separate tax rules. A Trust can be set up at any time during the lifetime of an individual to become operative immediately or, not until your death. Find out more about what a Trust can do for you.
   
• Guardians: If you have young children, you should consider appointing guardians to take care of them if you die while they are still young. Even if you have "god parents" we all know that the choice of god parent is sometimes an emotional decision made at a specific time. Appointing guardians is usually done whilst making your Will.