27/08/2026
With an estate of approximately £3 million, the potential Inheritance Tax exposure could be substantial.
A simple Will may distribute the estate successfully, but assets inherited outright would normally become part of the children’s personal estates.
That could expose the inheritance to another Inheritance Tax charge when the children later pass it to the grandchildren. It may also leave the assets exposed to divorce, creditors, bankruptcy or care costs.
The discussion therefore covered:
• Trust-based Wills with separate family trusts for each child.
• Lifetime gifting and the seven-year rule.
• The difference between gifting directly and gifting through a trust.
• Properly documented trust loans.
• Life insurance to provide liquidity for an Inheritance Tax bill.
• Property, pension, Capital Gains Tax and Stamp Duty considerations.
Trust planning does not automatically eliminate tax, and creating several trusts does not automatically create several separate £325,000 allowances. Every recommendation must be based on the ownership of the assets, previous gifts, family circumstances and the legislation applying at the time.
My view is simple: complex family wealth should not be planned around one product or one tax calculation. The Will, lifetime gifts, trusts, pensions, insurance and future family risks must all work together.
If your family owns property, investments, pensions or business assets, arrange a complete estate planning review before transferring anything.
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