Talk to us about trust planning
Fill in a short form and we'll call you to go through your options.
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Fill in a short form and we'll call you to go through your options.
Get Started ›A trust is a legal arrangement that allows you to set aside assets — such as property, savings, or investments — for specific people, on specific terms. Rather than assets passing outright to a beneficiary, a trust gives you control over how and when they receive them.
Trusts aren't just for the wealthy. They're a practical tool used by ordinary families to protect their home, provide for children from a previous relationship, or make sure a vulnerable beneficiary is looked after properly. For many people, a trust is built into their will rather than set up separately — and our will writers will discuss whether it makes sense for your situation during your call.
If you remarry or enter a new relationship, a trust can ring-fence your share of the family home for your children, ensuring it doesn't pass entirely to a new partner.
Rather than leaving assets outright to young or vulnerable beneficiaries, a trust lets you specify an age or conditions — for example, inheriting at 25 rather than 18.
A property trust built into a will can help protect your share of your home for your intended beneficiaries, particularly in blended family situations or where care costs are a concern.
If a beneficiary has a disability or needs long-term care, a discretionary trust can provide for them without affecting their entitlement to means-tested benefits.
The right type of trust depends entirely on your circumstances. Common options include:
Built into your will to protect your share of a property for specific beneficiaries. Often used by couples who want to ensure their share of the home passes to their children rather than being absorbed into a surviving partner's estate.
Give trustees the flexibility to decide how and when assets are distributed among a group of potential beneficiaries. Useful where circumstances may change or where you want to provide for a vulnerable person without disqualifying them from benefits.
Allow a surviving spouse or partner to benefit from assets — such as living in the family home or receiving income — during their lifetime, with the underlying assets passing to named beneficiaries afterwards.
A straightforward arrangement where assets are held for a named beneficiary who has an absolute right to them once they reach 18. Often used to hold assets for children or grandchildren.
Trust planning can be complex, and the right approach depends on your individual circumstances. Our will writers will explain your options clearly on your call and let you know if your situation calls for more specialist advice.
A couple — both with children from previous relationships — own a home together. Without a trust, the entire property could pass to the surviving partner on the first death, and then entirely to their own children when they die, leaving the other's children with nothing.
A life interest trust built into each will means the surviving partner can continue living in the home, but each person's share of the property is protected for their own children. It's a straightforward arrangement that prevents an unintended outcome without being unnecessarily complicated.
Not sure if a trust is right for you? Fill in a form and we'll talk it through.
Get Started ›No. Trusts are used by ordinary families for practical reasons — protecting a share of the family home, providing for children from a previous relationship, or managing how a young or vulnerable beneficiary receives their inheritance.
Not always. Many trusts are built directly into a will rather than set up as a separate document. This is common for property trusts and life interest trusts. Your will writer will advise on the right approach for your situation.
It depends on the type of trust. Some — such as a life interest trust — allow you or your surviving partner to benefit from assets during your lifetime. Others are designed to pass assets directly to beneficiaries. Your will writer will explain what's right for your circumstances.
Not automatically. While some trusts can form part of an inheritance tax planning strategy, the rules are complex and depend on individual circumstances. We'll always be clear about what a trust can and can't achieve for your situation rather than make promises that don't hold up.
It depends on the type. A property trust or life interest trust built into a will is a relatively straightforward addition to the will-writing process. More complex arrangements require more specialist advice, which we'll flag if relevant to your situation.
Fill in a short form and one of our will writers will call you to talk through your situation and explain your options in plain English — no jargon, no pressure.
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