Stage S12

UK Wills: The Complete Guide

A UK will sets out how assets pass on death and names executors to administer the estate. Without a will, intestacy rules apply, which often produce outcomes the deceased would not have chosen. Wills should be reviewed after marriage, divorce, having children, and major asset changes.

16 Jun 2026 · 9 min read

UK Will Witnesses and Validity Rules

A UK will must be signed by the testator in the presence of two independent witnesses, who must also sign in the testator's presence. Beneficiary witnesses (or their spouses) invalidate the gift to the beneficiary but not the rest of the will. Improper execution can invalidate the entire

16 Jun 2026 · 9 min read

UK Will Disputes and Contesting Process

UK wills can be contested on several grounds: lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence, fraud, want of knowledge and approval, improper execution, or claims for reasonable financial provision under the Inheritance Act 1975. Time limits and procedural requirements apply. Most

16 Jun 2026 · 8 min read

UK Trusts Overview for Estate Planning

UK trusts hold assets for the benefit of others. They are widely used in estate planning to control how wealth passes, protect beneficiaries (including minors and vulnerable adults), and (in some cases) achieve IHT efficiency. Different trust types have different tax treatments under IHT,

16 Jun 2026 · 8 min read

UK Online vs Solicitor Wills Compared

Online will services cost less (typically GBP 30 to GBP 100) and suit simple estates with standard provisions. Solicitor-drafted wills cost more (typically GBP 150 to GBP 400 for standard wills) but include legal advice and are typically appropriate for more complex estates, blended

16 Jun 2026 · 7 min read

UK Mirror Wills vs Mutual Wills Compared

Mirror wills are two identical wills made by a couple, each leaving everything to the other and then to chosen beneficiaries. Each can be changed independently after the first death. Mutual wills include a binding agreement not to change after the first death, enforced as a trust on the

16 Jun 2026 · 9 min read

UK Lasting Power of Attorney vs Will Compared

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) and a will address different stages of life. An LPA gives chosen attorneys authority to make decisions if the donor loses mental capacity during their lifetime. A will sets out how assets pass on death and names executors to administer the estate. Both

16 Jun 2026 · 9 min read

UK Lifetime Gifting Strategies for IHT

Lifetime gifting moves wealth out of the IHT-taxable estate. Several exemptions allow gifts to be made immediately without IHT impact; potentially exempt transfers fall outside the estate after 7 years. Gifts out of normal expenditure from surplus income are exempt without time limit if

17 Jun 2026 · 9 min read

UK Estate Planning: The Complete Guide

UK estate planning combines a will, lifetime gifts, trusts, and beneficiary nominations to pass wealth to chosen beneficiaries while managing inheritance tax. The IHT nil-rate band of GBP 325,000 and residence nil-rate band of up to GBP 175,000 are key allowances; the 40 percent IHT rate

16 Jun 2026 · 9 min read

UK Estate Planning by Net Worth Bracket

Estate planning needs differ by net worth: estates well below the nil-rate bands need only a clear will and Power of Attorney; estates approaching or above the bands need active IHT planning; very large estates often use trusts and business reliefs. This article maps planning steps to

16 Jun 2026 · 9 min read