At Wills & Wishes Legal, we understand the importance of planning for the future and ensuring that your loved ones are well taken care of when you’re no longer around. That’s why we specialise in providing comprehensive will trust services that go beyond just legalities – we offer a compassionate and personalised approach that puts your peace of mind and the well-being of your family first.

We know that estate planning can be a complicated and emotional time, but we are here to help make it as smooth and stress-free as possible.

What Is A Will Trust?

A will trust is a legal arrangement that gives you control over your estate and helps protect your assets and provide for your loved ones when you are no longer here. 

Instead of giving everything directly to your beneficiaries on your death, a trust is created to hold and manage the assets on their behalf, allowing you to specify how your assets should be managed and distributed. 

This ensures that your assets are safeguarded and can be used to benefit your family according to your wishes while also offering advantages such as minimising taxes and maintaining protection.

Why Choose A Will Trust?

Asset Protection

A will trust provides an extra layer of protection for your assets, shielding them from potential risks, legal disputes, or mismanagement. This allows you to have the peace of mind of knowing that your assets will be preserved and used according to your wishes.

Control and Flexibility 

Unlike a standard will, a will trust allows you to exercise greater control over the distribution of your assets. You can specify conditions and terms under which your beneficiaries can have or utilise the assets, ensuring they are used responsibly and aligned with your values.

Minimise Tax Liabilities 

By incorporating strategic tax planning, we can help you minimise the burden of inheritance tax on your estate. This means more of your hard-earned assets will go directly to your loved ones.

Protection for Vulnerable Beneficiaries 

If you have beneficiaries who may be financially inexperienced, have special needs or disabilities, or face unique circumstances, a will trust can provide ongoing management and protection of their inheritance, ensuring their long-term financial well-being while safeguarding their interests.

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Probate Assistance

Thinking about setting up a will trust is a big step in protecting your assets. But what about after? That’s where our Probate Services come in. They’re all about making sure everything you’ve planned is handled just the way you want it, hassle-free when you’re no longer here. Take a look at our Probate Services for a complete, worry-free approach to managing your estate.

Probate services

Different Types Of Will Trusts

While there are many different types of trusts, here are some of the most popular that we deal with:

Protective Property Trust Will

A protective property trust Will is designed to protect your property’s value and secure the financial well-being of your surviving loved ones.

A protective property trust provides financial security for a surviving spouse or partner, ensuring they continue to have a place to live and, if you say so, can benefit from the capital and income from the property during their lifetime. It also protects the property’s value for your chosen beneficiaries, typically your children, guaranteeing they will inherit your share of the property once the surviving spouse or partner is no longer alive.

This means that when you pass away, your share in the property is placed into a trust instead of transferring your share to your surviving spouse or partner. This trust ensures that your chosen beneficiaries, often your children, ultimately benefit from your share in the property, and your surviving spouse or partner gets to live in the property for the rest of their life.

An example of this in action would be;

John, a father of two children, owns the family home with his long-time partner Sarah. He wants to ensure that his share in the property is protected and eventually distributed to benefit his children but that his long-time partner, Sarah, is protected for the rest of her life. John decides to create a protective property trust in his will.

In his will, John establishes a trust for managing his share in the house. The trust specifies that Sarah will have the right to live in the house for the rest of her life. Upon Sarah’s passing, his share in the house will be transferred to his children, who will become the ultimate beneficiaries.

This arrangement provides financial security for Sarah, ensuring she has a place to live and benefits from the property during her lifetime. It also protects the property’s value for John’s children, guaranteeing they will inherit it once Sarah is no longer alive, no matter what happens to Sarah, whether she meets someone else and changes her will, decides not to include John’s children in her will or goes into care.

 

Flexible Life Interest Trust Will

A flexible life interest trust will works similarly to a protective property trust will but is not restricted to protecting just property. This trust can include property and other assets such as savings. The flexible life interest trust will specifies how your property and other assets will be distributed after your death while providing ongoing support for a beneficiary during their lifetime. 

This means that when you pass away, your share in the property and other assets are placed in a trust instead of transferred to your surviving spouse or partner. This trust ensures that your chosen beneficiaries, often your children, ultimately benefit from your share in the property and other assets. Still, your surviving spouse or partner gets to live in the property for the rest of their life and, if you say so, benefit from capital and income from property and assets in the trust so they have financial protection.

 

Discretionary Trust Will

With a discretionary trust will, the distribution of assets is left to the discretion of the appointed trustees rather than the assets being given directly to specific beneficiaries. The trustees decide with your guidance which beneficiaries benefit from the trust and when and how. The trustees can adapt to changing circumstances and individual needs, ensuring the beneficiaries receive support and protection while maintaining control over the assets.

Our Will Trust Service

Planning for the future has never been easier with our will trust service. We understand the importance of simplicity and transparency, so we offer a straightforward approach that puts you in control. We aim to establish a solid framework that meets your wishes and ensures your assets are managed exactly as you want.

We’ll take the time to get to know you and your unique situation. By understanding what matters most to you, we can provide tailored solutions that meet your wishes.

At Wills & Wishes Legal, we take great pride in being there for our clients, not just during the initial planning process but for the long term. Life is ever-changing, and we’re here to support you through those changes. Whether you need ongoing assistance or updates to your will trust as your circumstances evolve, we’ve got you covered.

Your peace of mind and satisfaction are our top priorities, and we’ll do whatever it takes to ensure you have the support you need.

Elderly couple receiving advice from legal professional

Are you…

wanting some more information about how you can protect your assets ensuring that those you want to benefit do so? Please get in touch to learn more about our Will Trust service and discover how we can help you protect the future of your loved ones.

We offer telephone or video consultations as well as home visits.