News

Inheritance Tax planning remains essential, with current thresholds including a £325,000 nil rate band and up to £175,000 residence allowance per person. Understanding key rules—such as the seven-year rule for gifts, annual exemptions, and spousal transfers—can help reduce liability. Careful lifetime gifting, combined with professional advice, can ensure your estate is managed efficiently and tax exposure minimised for your beneficiaries.

Dealing with the loss of a loved one is overwhelming, and navigating their Will or the probate process can add further stress. While many estates are administered smoothly, disputes over a Will’s validity, delays in probate, or concerns about how executors are handling matters can quickly become challenging. This post highlights the most common issues that arise and why early legal advice is essential.

Agricultural Property Relief (APR) is key for farm succession planning. Proposed reforms will cap APR and Business Property Relief at £2.5m per person, transferable between spouses, effective April 2026 (subject to legislation). Farming families should review estate plans now to prepare for these changes.

Inheritance Tax: Changes to Agricultural Property Relief

The Autumn Budget of 2024 and how it may affect our clients

Also known as Disabled Persons Trust but they are not only for registered disabled persons.

As the name suggests, these trusts allow the appointed Trustees discretion as to which beneficiary is to be paid, how much to pay, when to p

Commonly known as Life Interest or Interest in Possession Trusts. These are useful for couples who are married or in a civil partnership wh

An Introduction to Wills Trusts from our Private Client Department at Macmillans Solicitors LLP.

From 26th July 2023 the Statutory Legacy on intestacies has increased from £270,000 to £322,000. This means that where a person has died...

Who pays care home fees? You have to pay for your own care costs if the valuation of your personal assets (including property, money, possessions, etc) exceeds the national threshold. What is the national threshold? The threshold is different for people in England and Northern Ireland than it is for those in Wales or Scotland. The thresholds are as at 2023: England and Northern Ireland = £23,250 Wales = £50,000 Scotland = £28,750 If the total value of all your assets is over