United Kingdom: Trusts

Understanding the complexities of inheritance tax on trusts can be challenging for practitioners navigating Scottish private client law. This practical guide demystifies the 10-year anniversary charge, providing essential insights into calculation methods, exemptions, and strategic planning considerations that trustees and advisors need to master.

Macfarlanes has secured proprietary injunctions over £12.6 million in assets following what a judge described as a "remarkable" settlement process involving Pride Planning and trustees of a funeral plan trust. The case centers on allegations that trustees breached their fiduciary duties by rapidly settling a claim and transferring all trust assets to Pride Planning, leaving nothing for customers who had not transferred to Dignity. The court found a good arguable case that the settlement constituted a b

Blended families face unique estate planning challenges when balancing the needs of a surviving partner with preserving assets for children from previous relationships. Without proper planning, the intestacy rules in England and Wales often fail to reflect modern family structures, potentially leaving partners vulnerable and children without their expected inheritance.

The Financial Times recently highlighted how some institutions pursue high-net-worth clients through lavish hospitality and concierge services, yet this approach fundamentally misunderstands what truly preserves multigenerational wealth. While exotic perks and luxury experiences may attract attention, the real foundation of lasting family office success lies in something far more substantive: trust as an active institutional framework that governs decision-making during both prosperity and crisis.

When a business owner loses mental capacity, managing their exit from the business is just the beginning of a complex legal journey. This article examines the critical steps that follow—from asset management and property sales to estate planning and statutory wills—revealing the essential legal mechanisms that protect incapacitated business owners and their families.

The Commercial Court has refused to continue proprietary injunctions against investors who received payments from collapsed UK bridging lender Market Financial Solutions (MFS) before its administration. The court found that investors whose investments were returned before the collapse were bona fide purchasers for value without notice, allowing them to take the monies free of any trust despite MFS's alleged misappropriation of funds intended for mortgage loan origination.

When drafting or updating your Will, understanding the financial and tax implications can significantly impact how your estate is distributed. From inheritance tax calculations and residence nil rate bands to charitable...

The office of "protector" is a common feature of many discretionary trusts. A protector is a person on whom the trust instrument confers specified powers relating to the governance...

Sabrina Carpenter's latest single inspires a legal examination of cohabitation rights in England. When romantic promises like "what's mine is now yours" meet the reality of relationship breakdown...