Services for the UBT Community

Wills

When somebody dies, there are legal practicalities that have to be addressed. There are usually finances, property and possessions to be distributed, and in some cases there may be children left behind who need to be cared for.

A Will is a document that allows you to set out how you would like these legal practicalities to be managed on your behalf. Within your Will you can make clear who you wish to become responsible for your children, who you would like to inherit your property, possessions and money, and even what your wishes are for your funeral.

We work with our clients to talk through how they would like their estate to be managed in the event of their death. This can include plans for who business owners would like to inherit and take responsibility for their business.

Once all these important decisions have been made, we prepare a Will on behalf of our clients and ensure they are signed and registered correctly.

Probate

Probate is the name given to the process of winding up someone’s estate after their death, either in accordance to their Will (if they made one) or intestacy laws (if they didn’t).

In some cases, this process can be completed in a couple of months. In others, it could take years. It’s important to remember that when a solicitor winds up an estate, they are essentially working to close down that person’s life. This includes concluding all of their professional and financial affairs, which understandably can take time.

We can help you manage this process and ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible at what may well be an emotional and difficult time.

Trusts

A Trust is a legal arrangement whereby one individual will look after assets (including money or property) on behalf of somebody else.

There are a number of reasons why it may make sense to set up a Trust:

• To manage money or property on behalf of a child
• To manage money or property on behalf of a vulnerable adult
• To manage money or property in a way that is financially beneficial in terms of tax benefits
• To preserve assets in the event of a death
• To reduce the inheritance tax that would be payable on a business that was passed down

We can help you with setting up or administrating a Trust.

Tax Planning

We can provide a full review of your personal finance and tax affairs to ensure you’re benefiting from all available options to minimise your inheritance tax liabilities.

This review includes full consideration of what will happen to your assets in the event of your death, and how the interests of your beneficiaries can be protected.

Powers of Attorney

Powers of Attorney are a group of documents that allow individuals to nominate family members, loved ones or business associates to act on their behalf.

There are three types of Powers of Attorney:

• Lasting Powers of Attorney (which replaced Enduring Powers of Attorney in 2007)
• General Powers of Attorney
• Ordinary Powers of Attorney

Putting together a Power of Attorney means that your family would legally be able to make decisions relating to your finances, business and health care should you no longer be able to do so.

We can work with you to determine which sort of Power of Attorney would be right for you and your business.

Court of Protection

Caring for elderly family members can be challenging. If you have a loved one who is no longer able to make decisions for themselves, we can help you apply to the Court of Protection for permission to manage their affairs on their behalf.

This may also allow you to make decisions relating to the individual’s health care, including where and how they are looked after.

We can advise you on all matters relating to the Court of Protection.