Family

UK Probate Explained in 2026

UK probate is the legal process of administering a deceased person's estate. The executor (with a will) or administrator (without) applies to the Probate Service for the formal authority to gather assets, pay debts and IHT, and distribute the estate. Most UK estates require probate where the deceas

16 Jun 2026 · 10 min read

UK Prepaid Funeral Plans Explained

A UK prepaid funeral plan locks in the cost of a defined funeral package today, with the provider holding the funds (in trust or insurance) until the funeral is needed. The market has been regulated by the FCA since 29 July 2022, materially strengthening consumer protection. Plans typically cover t

16 Jun 2026 · 7 min read

UK IHT Residence Nil-Rate Band Explained

The residence nil-rate band is an additional UK IHT allowance of up to 175,000 pounds per individual where a qualifying main residence is left to direct descendants. It is in addition to the 325,000 pound standard nil-rate band. The band tapers away for estates over 2 million pounds and is subject

16 Jun 2026 · 10 min read

UK IHT Planning Strategies in 2026

UK IHT planning combines lifetime exemptions, the seven-year rule on gifts, the nil-rate bands, business and charity reliefs, and life insurance to manage the eventual IHT charge. The post-April 2025 residence-based regime, the freeze of nil-rate bands, and the April 2026 reforms to Business Relief

16 Jun 2026 · 8 min read

UK IHT Nil-Rate Band Explained

The UK inheritance tax nil-rate band is the amount of an estate that passes free of IHT. The standard nil-rate band is currently 325,000 pounds per individual and has been frozen at this level for many years. Unused band is transferable between spouses and civil partners, doubling the effective thr

16 Jun 2026 · 11 min read

UK IHT 7-Year Rule on Gifts Explained

The seven-year rule is the UK IHT mechanism that determines whether a lifetime gift is exempt or chargeable. Gifts more than seven years before death are typically outside the estate. Gifts within seven years are added back, with taper relief reducing the IHT rate on gifts made between three and se

16 Jun 2026 · 10 min read

UK Funeral Costs Explained in 2026

Average UK funeral costs in 2026 sit in the range of 4,000 to 5,500 pounds for a basic attended funeral, with substantial regional variation and a wide spread between direct cremation and full traditional service. State support is available in limited circumstances. Most families pay from the estat

16 Jun 2026 · 7 min read

Non-Dom IHT in the UK Explained After April 2025

From 6 April 2025, the UK abolished the non-dom inheritance tax regime and replaced it with a residence-based test. The old domicile concept no longer determines IHT exposure on worldwide assets; the new test is whether a person is a long-term UK resident, defined as UK-resident for 10 out of the p

16 Jun 2026 · 8 min read

Cross-Border IHT for UK Migrants

Inheritance tax exposure for a UK migrant turns on long-term residence and the new residence-based IHT regime that took effect from 6 April 2025, replacing the old domicile concept. A migrant becomes a long-term UK resident (and therefore exposed to IHT on worldwide assets) after 10 out of the prec

16 Jun 2026 · 8 min read

Children Arrival in the UK: Schools and Healthcare (2026)

Children arriving in the UK on a dependant visa enter two parallel systems: state schooling via the local authority and NHS primary care via a GP. School admissions outside the normal September entry use the in-year admissions route, which is managed by the local council rather than the school. NHS

16 Jun 2026 · 5 min read