Estate planning involves maximizing your wealth to then passing it on efficiently in a way that achieves your aims, which would normally include the provision of financial security for yourself and your family and mitigating tax. The scope of options available to you are primarily dependant on your circumstances including the value and type of assets included in your estate, your civil status and your family unit.
When you are in a position to pass on your wealth before you die you it is important that you do plan your lifetime gifts in the most effective tax way, taking into account inheritance tax and capital grains tax, for instance. Likewise, when you are arranging for your assets to pass on your death, you would want to ensure that, while achieving your objectives, your Will contains the most appropriate and tax efficient arrangements. This is achieved, for instance, by making appropriate use of tax exemptions and reliefs.
When passing on assets to your family or beneficiaries, both during your lifetime and in your Will, you can do this by making outright gifts to a person or setting up a trust, transferring your assets to your trustees for them to manage the trust fund for the beneficiaries of the trust.
I can assist you with setting up a lifetime trust to protect your assets for future generations or protect a vulnerable family member, for instance. Additionally, there are other steps you may take to plan for your future, protect your loved ones and your assets which include making a Will, Will Trusts, Lasting Powers of Attorney and arranging for a Pre-paid Funeral Plan.