About Private Client Law
When Private Clients ask questions, they expect answers - right away. But when you’re working across so many different areas of the subject day to day, it’s impossible to hold it all in your head. In addition finding the answer often means cross-referencing several different sources – from the latest legislation to the Law Society’s most up-to-date guidance.
Will Precedents
Precedents covering the most common scenarios in this area. Drafting notes accompany each clause - incorporating the latest developments like Will drafting considerations for inheritance tax residence nil rate band.
Court of Protection
Our Court of Protection topic covers both property and finance, and health and welfare Court of Protection applications. It’s geared at both the Court of Protection specialist practitioner and the occasional user.
Trust compliance
Topics include beneficial ownership transparency, the Money Laundering Regulations, the Trust Registration Service, obligations relating to data protection and GDPR and offences under the Bribery Act 2010.
Cross-referencing sources
When private clients ask questions, they expect answers quickly. But, working across lots of areas day to day, it’s impossible to hold it all in your head. We’ll help you cross-referencing several different sources.
Topics We Cover
Latest Private Client News
This Q&A contains links to further guidance on the validity of Wills under Wills Act 1963 and on the possible application of English private...
This week’s edition of Private Client highlights includes: (1) Changizi v Changizi, where a non-exempt beneficiary’s share of estate was liable for...
The Supreme Court unanimously dismissed the hospitals’ appeals in these cases concerning withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment for children. There...
Tax analysis: In the case of Changizi v Changizi and others, the English estate of a testator was left (after a deed of variation) as to 5/6 to his...
Law360, London: HMRC on 14 April 2025 established the penalty structure for financial institutions that fail to comply with the UK's regulations on...
Latest Private Client Practice Notes
Internationally mobile employees with employment-related securities or securities optionsIntroductionThis Practice Note discusses the taxation of...
Remote execution of documents in property transactions—virtual and electronic signaturesThis Practice Note looks at the use of virtual and electronic...
Offshore trusts—attribution of income to settlorsSTOP PRESS: Abolition of non-dom regime and introduction of residence-based IHT regimeFinance Act...
Transfer of assets abroad—introductionSTOP PRESS: Abolition of non-dom regime and introduction of residence-based IHT regimeFinance Act 2025 (FA 2025)...
Offshore trusts—capital payments to UK resident non-domiciliaries and applicable reliefsSTOP PRESS: Abolition of non-dom regime and introduction of...
Latest Private Client Precedents
Inheritance tax—client guideWhat is inheritance tax?Inheritance tax (IHT) is broadly a tax charged on a person’s death, based on the value of that...
Explanatory note for a client's Will—legacy of business property on discretionary trust, residue to spouse absolutely, then to children absolutelySTOP...
Explanatory note for a client's Will—legacy of agricultural property on discretionary trust, residue to spouse absolutely, then children...
Explanatory note for a client's Will—Half to spouse absolutely and half to children absolutelySTOP PRESS: Abolition of non-dom regime and introduction...
Explanatory note/Summary for a client's Will for a married couple with no childrenSTOP PRESS: Abolition of non-dom regime and introduction of...
Latest Private Client Q&As
Featured Private Client content
Can a power of attorney lapse or expire or does it last indefinitely? Does it need to be updated or 'refreshed'?
Death in service benefits
Death in service benefitsOverview of the types of death in service benefits and their tax treatmentThere are three types of death in service...
Nature and classification of trusts—the three certainties
Nature and classification of trusts—the three certaintiesCertaintyIn order for a settlor to create a private express trust the three certainties must...
Lifetime gifts
Lifetime giftsA lifetime gift is a gratuitous transfer of ownership of any property between living persons and not made in expectation of death. In...
Exemptions and reliefs from income tax
Exemptions and reliefs from income taxFor income tax rates and allowances applicable in the current tax year, see Practice Note: Key UK tax rates,...
Payment of legacies
Payment of legaciesIdentification of beneficial interestsThe personal representatives (PRs) of an estate must identify:•the beneficiary or...
Liferent trusts—Scotland
Liferent trusts—ScotlandLiferent trustsA liferent trust (or trust liferent) is a trust which, when settled, confers a use and income benefit, or both,...
Notaries and notarisation—notarisation
Notaries and notarisation—notarisationThe principles of the notarial act are that it is:•an act of the notary and not of the parties named in the...
Trustees—self-dealing, unauthorised profits and conflicts of interest
Trustees—self-dealing, unauthorised profits and conflicts of interestThe self-dealing ruleThe self-dealing rule is connected to, but distinct from,...
Benevolent funds
Benevolent fundsFORTHCOMING CHANGE: The Charities Act 2022 (CA 2022) received Royal Assent on 24 February 2022 and will be implemented on a staggered...
Creation of trusts—life insurance trusts
Creation of trusts—life insurance trustsDefining life insurance trustsA life insurance trust usually involves either:•an assignment of an insurance...
CGT—PPR relief for UK residents with overseas dwellings and non-UK residents with UK dwellings
CGT—PPR relief for UK residents with overseas dwellings and non-UK residents with UK dwellingsPrincipal private residence relief (PPR relief) exempts...
When can a mistake in an executed deed be rectified by a manuscript amendment rather than by a deed of rectification?
Calculating the IHT charge on death
Calculating the IHT charge on deathThis Practice Note outlines how to calculate the amount of inheritance tax (IHT) that arises on an individual’s...
Protectors
ProtectorsWhat is a protector?A protector is a person who holds powers under a trust but who is not a trustee. A protector is a person who is...
A trust holds the beneficial ownership of shares in a company of which one trustee is a director. Of the three beneficiaries, two are adults and there is a declaration of trust in respect of the shares held for them. The other is a minor and there is a separate declaration of trust for him. What would or should happen to the company shares on the death of a beneficiary? Neither declaration of trust deals with this issue.
The Cy-près doctrine
The Cy-près doctrineFORTHCOMING CHANGE: The Charities Act 2022 (CA 2022) received Royal Assent on 24 February 2022 and will be implemented on a...
Perpetuities and accumulations
Perpetuities and accumulationsThe rules relating to perpetuities and accumulations stem from the common law and the provisions in the Perpetuities and...
Associated legal terms
Administrator
The insolvency practitioner, and officer of the court, who is charged with managing the affairs, business and property of a company in administration.
Financial guardian
Person appointed by the court to manage the property and financial affairs of an adult with incapacity under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 (AI(S)A 2000). See also guardian'>welfare guardian.
General anti-abuse rule (GAAR)
A tax avoidance rule the purpose of which is to deter taxpayers from entering into abusive arrangements, and to deter would-be promoters from promoting such arrangements.
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