Estate Planning.
Our dedicated Estate Planning Lawyers are here to help you structure your assets, minimise tax, and secure your family’s financial future for generations to come.
Planning for the future can feel daunting, particularly when you are trying to protect your family, your assets and everything you have worked hard to build.
Estate planning can help put the right legal arrangements in place to give you greater certainty for the future. Whether you want to provide for loved ones, protect business interests, or minimise inheritance tax liabilities, taking advice early can help ensure your wishes are clearly recorded and your affairs are managed in the most effective way possible.
At Lanyon Bowdler, our Estate Planning Lawyers provide clear, practical advice tailored to your personal circumstances. From your first conversation with us, you can expect a sensitive and straightforward approach, with legal and tax matters explained clearly. We will take the time to understand what matters most to you and help you put arrangements in place that protect both your interests and those of the people closest to you.
Our Private Client team is recognised across England and Wales, with Lanyon Bowdler ranked in Band 1 for Private Wealth Law by Chambers High Net Worth and recommended by Legal 500 for Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate. The team also includes practitioners who are members of STEP, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, reflecting specialist expertise in estate planning, trusts, succession and later life legal advice.
Contact Lanyon Bowdler today to speak to our Estate Planning Lawyers about protecting your future and the people who matter most to you.
Making sure you have a strategic plan for your estate succession is crucial. This is not only helpful to pass on assets to relatives, friends, or organisations, but can also help you:
Every estate is different, and requires specific legal support and advice. You may decide to plan your estate for a variety of reasons. At Lanyon Bowdler, we can help you achieve your goals and protect your estate, ensuring it is held and administered as per your wishes.
The Estate Planning Solicitors at Lanyon Bowdler have years of experience dealing with estate planning for all situations, from individuals to multi-national business owners. Contact us today for expert and tailored legal advice.
Over many years, Lanyon Bowdler has built up a proud reputation of providing a service our clients can trust, and our firm is home to legal professionals in all areas of law.
Our experience in the area of estate planning extends to advising banks, trust companies, wealth managers and financial advisers.
In this episode you’ll hear from Jack Fallows from Herald Wealth Management. Jack’s talking with private client solicitor David Pugh about NHS pensions and estate planning. If you have a current or frozen NHS pension, this episode is essential listening.
When financial planning, please consider that your capital is at risk. Tax legislation is subject to change and depends upon your personal circumstances.
This episode talks about “Private Client” it is a term used in the legal profession, but the average person doesn’t really know what it means. We chat about several aspects, including trusts, Lasting Powers of Attorney, along with the process around wills and why it’s so important to make one.
This was our second interaction with LB and in both cases we found our solicitor approachable, efficient and very knowledgeable. I am sure we could have found a cheaper solicitor but we were looking for a thorough professional which is what we got
Highly recommended solicitors.
A professional and efficient team who have provided a excellent legal service.
Our business was done in our first language (Welsh) which was very important for us. We were contacted at every step throughout the procedure in a friendly manner every time.
Diolch yn fawr.
Excellent service. Very professional and approachable, clear advice given and time spent to deliver the advice.
We required the drafting of new wills to ensure that in the event of one of us going into care the cost would be kept to a sensible level that protected the interests of the other partner. This was done to our great satisfaction with the smoothest of procedures.
Excellent advice and service – everything well explained and carried out.
Lasting Powers of Attorney – we have been clients with Lanyon Bowdler for decades and have always been happy with the service.
From the initial meeting to completion of my wife Jayne and my will, the process was seamless, efficient and easy to understand. This was despite our wills involving two businesses, a commercial property owned by my SIPP, in addition to our own house and chattels. The price was fair and we were both very satisfied with the end result. We would definitely recommend Lanyon Bowdler based on our experiences.
Making a will can be a minefield of mixed emotions and an overload of information and choices as there are so many options, and prices. In the end we decided to go with Lanyon Bowdler and contacted them for a consultation. We were completely impressed with their professionalism and customer service also the way the look after their clients. Thank you for all your help and patience we would definitely recommend your services.
From the first contact, the team at Lanyon Bowdler gave a fast & efficient service. They were very friendly & gave me the confidence that I had found the right solicitors. The advice given & the fast responses were beyond my expectations. The matter was resolved in no time at all.
Good initial meeting, written communication, documentary guidance and good advice on my will.
We sought guidance and advice on Power of Attorney which was delivered in a most understandable and efficient way. The conclusion and production of same followed in the same manner which pleased us greatly.
Since dealing with Lanyon Bowdler they have been diligent, efficient and at all times very helpful along with being structured in dealing with matters, fees and clarity on all levels. Thank you.
I was clearly informed of progress step by step. The service you provided was very good.
All work carried out effectively and efficiently.
I felt safe that Lanyon Bowdler understood both my concerns and requirements. I would use again and recommend.
An excellent service with solicitors that you can talk to and who give you a clear understanding of all necessary legal implications and interpretations.
A fluent welsh speaking solicitor from an agricultural background, provided an in depth assessment and good advice in distributing the inheritance of the family farm.
From start to finish we had excellent service. Friendly, approachable and professional.
Very clear, concise advice and guidance, easy to understand.
Good service provided throughout with clear communication throughout with all options explored.
I can thoroughly recommend the highly professional and supportive service received over the last few months.
Responsive, supportive, approachable, clear and empathetic.
Professional and prompt communication. Supportive and client focused.
Whenever I have had need to contact Lanyon Bowdler I have always received a fast, concise and friendly response.
Definitely would use Lanyon Bowdler again if I need the use of a solicitor.
Smooth and efficient service from very professional firm.
We were particularly impressed with the quality of work, the speed and excellent communication.
Very friendly and approachable. Very good advice
Very professional and approachable. I was updated as to progress regularly. The final costs reflected good value for the service provided.
Great Service; Lanyon Bowdler were excellent from the outset. Straightforward and easy process. I just sat back and waited.
Everything has been professional, efficient and courteous throughout and we are very pleased, both with the service and with the eventual outcome of our case. Everything was first class and exceeded our expectations. Thank you again for providing such splendid service. It is really appreciated.
Planning for the future can be a complex matter. With our team of Estate Planning Solicitors at Lanyon Bowdler by your side, the process is made simple. We can help you in all areas of estate planning, including:
Dying without a will could create a series of problems for those left behind. Many people assume that their closest family and/or loved ones will automatically inherit their estate, but if you die without a will (known as ‘dying intestate’), that may not necessarily be the case. Once the rules of intestacy take over, your assets may not be divided in the way you would have wanted, or your wealth could be reduced through inheritance tax.
The only way you can ensure your estate is distributed properly, is to plan ahead during your lifetime.
It’s easy to put off, but writing a will it’s one of the most important things you can do.
When you put assets in a trust, they are held under the control of appointed people called ‘trustees’. The trustees then manage the trust according to your instructions, even after your death.
There are many reasons why you might use a trust and our experienced team will help put the right structure in place for your circumstances. You might want to support someone who is unable to manage their money themselves due to a brain injury, a mental health condition or a learning disability.
Some other ways a trust can be used include:
Put simply, tax planning means arranging your legal affairs in the most efficient way to minimise the tax burden which fall on your family when the time comes.
It is a very specialised area and can be a daunting prospect, which is why it’s vital to have a team of experienced professionals on your side.
Our friendly and approachable inheritance tax planning lawyers can advise you in all areas of financial planning, including the use of trusts, which can help lower the burden of inheritance tax and capital gains tax.
The Estate Administration Lawyers at Lanyon Bowdler regularly act for clients with business interests at home and abroad, including agricultural land owners, family businesses, entrepreneurs and estates, devising unique solutions to suit individual needs with the focus always on delivering the best service available.
We assist with a wide range of tax, asset protection and succession issues as well as anticipating and preventing family disputes, including:
Over many years, Lanyon Bowdler has built up a proud reputation of providing a service our clients can trust, and our firm is home to legal professionals in all areas of law.
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document which appoints a person of trust to make decisions on your behalf, regarding property, financial or health affairs, at a time in the future when you may no longer be able to make those decisions yourself.
The specialist lawyers here at Lanyon Bowdler have a wealth of knowledge and experience regarding Lasting Power of Attorney law, and will be able to guide you through the process in a sensitive, caring manner.
An LPA for your business will ensure the people you have chosen to do so, can step in to deal with your affairs in the short or long term if you are suddenly and without warning struck down by something like a stroke, brain injury, Alzheimer’s, dementia or Parkinson’s.
There may be other occasions where an LPA will be of benefit – a short-term illness or injury where you may be physically incapable of attending an appointment or are abroad on holiday or business.
The specialist team at Lanyon Bowdler is ready to help and advise you on all aspects of drafting a Lasting Power of Attorney which will ensure the day-to-day business of your company can continue efficiently without you, should the worst happen
If a relative or loved-one is no longer able to manage their affairs, and a power of attorney was not put in place beforehand, we can help you to make an application to the Court of Protection to obtain the permissions you need.
The Court of Protection can make decisions, and can appoint other people to make decisions, for those who lack the mental capacity to do so themselves. Principally these decisions involve health, financial affairs, property and personal welfare.
We pride ourselves on being one of the very few firms in the area with a department dedicated exclusively to working on Court of Protection cases for people with a degenerative condition, such as Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia, and those with a brain injury (acquired or not).
Our Court of Protection department manages approximately 55 deputyships and trusts with assets of approximately £100 million, putting it on a par with other nationally recognised Court of Protection practices.
We can also support you with:
The estate planning services we will offer you are always tailored to your situation. No two estates are identical, and our solicitors are highly skilled at providing legal advice that fits you and your needs.
Estate planning is the process of organising how your property, money and other assets will be managed during your lifetime and passed on after your death. It helps ensure your wishes are respected, your loved ones are provided for and your estate is managed efficiently, including considering ways to reduce inheritance tax.
An estate plan may include a will, trusts, inheritance tax planning and Lasting Powers of Attorney. Together, these arrangements can help protect your family’s financial future, provide for children or vulnerable relatives and give you peace of mind knowing your affairs are in order.
An estate plan should include the legal and financial arrangements needed to protect your assets, provide for loved ones and ensure your wishes are followed. The exact arrangements will depend on your family circumstances, finances and future intentions, but typically cover what happens during your lifetime and after your death.
The main elements may include:
Your estate plan should be reviewed following significant life changes. Our estate planning solicitors can help ensure your arrangements work together and continue to reflect your wishes.
Estate planning can help reduce inheritance tax by making effective use of available allowances, exemptions and reliefs. This may involve making gifts during your lifetime, reviewing asset ownership, considering trusts or structuring your will to help pass on your estate as tax-efficiently as possible.
The most suitable approach depends on your estate’s value, your family circumstances and your financial needs. Some arrangements, including trusts and lifetime gifts, can have additional tax implications. At Lanyon Bowdler, our estate planning solicitors can help you consider your legal and financial arrangements together, balancing potential tax savings with your long-term security.
You should consider setting up a trust if you want greater control over how your assets are managed or passed on. Trusts can be particularly useful for providing for young children, supporting vulnerable relatives, protecting an inheritance or ensuring family members from different relationships are provided for.
A trust allows appointed trustees to manage assets for chosen beneficiaries according to its terms. This can provide flexibility over how money is used and when it is distributed. However, trusts involve legal responsibilities and potential tax implications, so specialist advice can help you decide whether one is appropriate for your circumstances.
You can help protect an inheritance for children or vulnerable beneficiaries by placing assets into a suitable trust rather than leaving them directly to the individual. Trustees can manage the inheritance on their behalf, helping ensure the money is used appropriately and remains available to support their needs.
Depending on the trust, funds may be used for education, housing, care or other expenses. Specialist arrangements may also be suitable for beneficiaries who need additional support managing their finances. Our estate planning solicitors can help you choose the right structure and trustees to provide for your loved ones.
Business owners should plan for succession and inheritance tax by deciding who will own and manage their business in the future and putting appropriate legal and financial arrangements in place. This helps protect business continuity, provide clarity for family members or business partners and manage potential inheritance tax liabilities.
Important considerations include:
At Lanyon Bowdler, our estate planning solicitors work alongside our business and agricultural law specialists to help protect your business interests and your family’s future.
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) allows you to appoint someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf during your lifetime. It forms an important part of estate planning by helping protect your financial affairs, property and personal welfare if you become unable to make certain decisions yourself.
There are two types: a Property and Financial Affairs LPA, covering matters such as banking, bills and property, and a Health and Welfare LPA, covering care and medical decisions. A registered financial LPA can also be used with your permission while you retain mental capacity. Unlike a will, which takes effect after death, an LPA provides protection during your lifetime.
Whatever your requirements, Lanyon Bowdler has the right legal professional you need to look after your financial affairs. Give us a call or use the online enquiry form and a member of the team will get in touch directly.
Lanyon Bowdler have offices with expert teams of solicitors in Shrewsbury, Hereford, Ludlow, Oswestry, Telford, and Conwy in North Wales.
We are one of the most recognised law firms in Shropshire, Herefordshire, Mid and North Wales, Birmingham and the Midlands. We are able to offer a wide range of pricing options including fixed fees and service level guarantees.
As a leading law firm, we regularly assist clients with inheritance tax planning. We can represent you wherever you live in England or Wales.
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Challenging the Family Farm Tax with Scott Pepe from NFU
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Will the Law Commission’s Proposal for Changes to Wills Make the Vulnerable More Vulnerable? : Edward Rees and Sophie Burgoyne
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Update on the Changes to IHT for Farmers & Business Owners : Edward Rees and Sophie Burgoyne
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