About Private Client Law
When Private Clients ask questions, they expect answers - right away. But when you’re working across so many different areas of the subject day to day, it’s impossible to hold it all in your head. In addition finding the answer often means cross-referencing several different sources – from the latest legislation to the Law Society’s most up-to-date guidance.
Will Precedents
Precedents covering the most common scenarios in this area. Drafting notes accompany each clause - incorporating the latest developments like Will drafting considerations for inheritance tax residence nil rate band.
Court of Protection
Our Court of Protection topic covers both property and finance, and health and welfare Court of Protection applications. It’s geared at both the Court of Protection specialist practitioner and the occasional user.
Trust compliance
Topics include beneficial ownership transparency, the Money Laundering Regulations, the Trust Registration Service, obligations relating to data protection and GDPR and offences under the Bribery Act 2010.
Cross-referencing sources
When private clients ask questions, they expect answers quickly. But, working across lots of areas day to day, it’s impossible to hold it all in your head. We’ll help you cross-referencing several different sources.
Topics We Cover
Latest Private Client News
This Q&A considers the effect of a divorce on a Lasting Power of Attorney where one of the attorneys is the former spouse of the donor....
Private Client analysis: Farming businesses are often built over generations. They are asset-rich, cash-constrained, deeply personal and closely tied...
Law360, London: Individuals who moved to the UK in recent years have until the end of January 2028 to file for tax relief under the foreign income and...
Private Client analysis: This tax appeal concerned the correct inheritance tax (IHT) treatment of donations made to various political campaigning...
HMRC has published form IHT437, titled 'Claim to transfer unused 100% relief allowance for agricultural property or business property'. The form...
Latest Private Client Practice Notes
This Practice Note explains who has parental responsibility automatically for a child at birth. It also explains how unmarried fathers may acquire...
Why use environmental consultants?Environmental consultants work in a wide range of areas and businesses in regulating, controlling and preventing...
This Practice Note covers penalties on late paid tax under the income tax self assessment (ITSA) and corporation tax self assessment (CTSA) regimes....
This How to complete an action for proving the tenor of a lost Will or codicil guide has been written in partnership with Fergus Colquhoun, Terra...
‘The attribution of works of art to particular artists is often a matter of great controversy’ (per Sir Raymond Evershed MR).The value of the art...
Latest Private Client Precedents
This Precedent will be updated for the changes in the Autumn Budget 2024 that changed the treatment of Agricultural and Business property relief. An...
This Precedent will be updated for the changes in the Autumn Budget 2024, that changed the treatment of Agricultural and Business property relief. An...
[insert name and address of GP][insert date]Dear Dr [insert name of GP][insert full name, address and date of birth of client]I have been consulted by...
FORTHCOMING CHANGE: Potential changes to Wills Act 1837The Law Commission review of Wills has issued a final report on 16 May 2025 which includes in...
This Precedent will be updated for the changes in the Autumn Budget 2024 that changed the treatment of Agricultural and Business property relief. An...
Latest Private Client Q&As
Featured Private Client content
Nature and classification of trusts—the three certainties
Nature and classification of trusts—the three certaintiesCertaintyIn order for a settlor to create a private express trust the three certainties must...
Protectors
ProtectorsWhat is a protector?A protector is a person who holds powers under a trust but who is not a trustee. A protector is a person who is...
Preparing the application form PA1P/PA1A for probate or letters of administration
Preparing the application form PA1P/PA1A for probate or letters of administrationFORTHCOMING CHANGE: The postal application forms PA1P and PA1A for...
Administration actions—personal representatives and the deceased's liabilities
Administration actions—personal representatives and the deceased's liabilitiesAn individual may assume obligations, for example in respect of...
Loan agreement—individuals
Loan agreement—individualsDATE:Parties1[[name] of [address] [and [name] of [address]] OR [name] and [name] both of [address]] (Lender[s])2[[name] of...
The Cy-près doctrine
The Cy-près doctrineFORTHCOMING CHANGE: The Charities Act 2022 (CA 2022) received Royal Assent on 24 February 2022 and will be implemented on a...
Trustees—appointment of trustees
Trustees—appointment of trusteesOriginal trusteesTrustees will usually be appointed by the instrument that brings the trust into existence. The trust...
Death in service benefits
Death in service benefitsOverview of the types of death in service benefits and their tax treatmentThere are three types of death in service...
Assent of assets by personal representatives
Assent of assets by personal representativesPersonal representatives (PRs) can transfer assets to beneficiaries in any way that would also be...
A trust holds the beneficial ownership of shares in a company of which one trustee is a director. Of the three beneficiaries, two are adults and there is a declaration of trust in respect of the shares held for them. The other is a minor and there is a separate declaration of trust for him. What would or should happen to the company shares on the death of a beneficiary? Neither declaration of trust deals with this issue.
Intermeddling in an estate
Intermeddling in an estateWhat is intermeddling?An individual who performs certain duties which a personal representative (PR) would perform to...
Termination of trusts—methods of termination
Termination of trusts—methods of terminationDuration of a trustThe duration of an express trust is subject to the restrictions imposed by the rules...
Trusts as a vehicle for holding company shares
Trusts as a vehicle for holding company sharesIntroductionMany trusts own shares as part of a portfolio of investments. This Practice Note looks at...
Benevolent funds
Benevolent fundsFORTHCOMING CHANGE: The Charities Act 2022 (CA 2022) received Royal Assent on 24 February 2022 and will be implemented on a staggered...
Creation of trusts—life insurance trusts
Creation of trusts—life insurance trustsDefining life insurance trustsA life insurance trust usually involves either:•an assignment of an insurance...
Lifetime gifts
Lifetime giftsA lifetime gift is a gratuitous transfer of ownership of any property between living persons and not made in expectation of death. In...
Source of income (and private client)
Source of income (and private client)When advising an individual on cross-border or offshore tax planning, it is important to establish the 'source'...
Liferent trusts—Scotland
Liferent trusts—ScotlandLiferent trustsA liferent trust (or trust liferent) is a trust which, when settled, confers a use and income benefit, or both,...
Associated legal terms
Contingent interest
A future interest under a trust which is deferred until the determination of a preceding interest and for the time being it is uncertain if it will ever take effect at all. See also ‘vested in interest’.
Forfeiture rule
The rule of public policy which in certain circumstances precludes a person who has unlawfully killed another (or who has unlawfully aided, abetted or procured the death of another) from acquiring a benefit in consequence of the killing. The rule applies whether the benefit is acquired by Will or through intestacy.
Relevant property regime
The inheritance tax regime contained in IHTA 1984, ss 58–85 under which inheritance tax is charged on relevant property.
CONTACT US
