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
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced that England, Wales and Northern Ireland are now among the first jurisdictions in the world to confirm in...
In a policy paper, the UK and 24 other jurisdictions announce the aim to implement the OECD’s latest tax transparency framework for the automatic...
This week’s edition of Private Client highlights includes: (1) further commentary on Budget 2025 and publication of Finance Bill 2026; (2) a...
The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) has welcomed government changes making the new £1m agricultural and business property reliefs allowance...
Private Client analysis: Finance (No 2) Bill 2024–26 (F(No 2)B 2024–26), also known as Finance Bill 2026 and to be enacted as Finance Act 2026, was...
Latest Private Client Practice Notes
Single higher rate of SDLT for high-value residential property transactionsThe single higher rate of stamp duty land tax (SDLT) for high-value...
When does VAT apply?A transaction must have five elements for UK VAT to be chargeable. It must:•be a supply of goods or a supply of services•be a...
Royal ChartersWhat is a Royal Charter?The term 'Royal Charter' has transformed over time. Originally, a Royal Charter was a procedure by which the...
HMRC compliance checks, enquiries and discovery assessmentsFORTHCOMING CHANGE: On 15 February 2024, the government published a call for evidence...
Taxation of cryptoassetsSTOP PRESS: Abolition of non-dom regime and introduction of residence-based IHT regime Finance Act 2025 (FA 2025) which...
Latest Private Client Precedents
Will clause—specific gift of all Bitcoin and separate gift of all EthereumI give free of tax the following:—to [donee name] of [address] all my...
Deed of appointment terminating discretionary trust—appointments in favour of adult beneficiary absolutely and in favour of minor beneficiary...
Deed of retirement and appointment of new trustees (separate appointor) (no continuing trustee)This Deed is made on [date]Parties1[insert name] of...
Style for action for proving lost Will—ScotlandIN THE SHERIFFDOM OF [insert name of Sheriff Court]INITIAL WRITin causa[insert name of pursuer],...
Notice of assignment—life insurance policyTo [insurance company]We [solicitors] of [address] as solicitors for [assignor] give you notice that by a...
Latest Private Client Q&As
Featured Private Client content
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...
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...
Preparing the application form PA1P/PA1A for probate or letters of administration
Preparing the application form PA1P/PA1A for probate or letters of administrationFORTHCOMING CHANGE: The postal application forms PA1P and PA1A for...
Administration actions—personal representatives and the deceased's liabilities
Administration actions—personal representatives and the deceased's liabilitiesAn individual may assume obligations, for example in respect of...
Loan agreement—individuals
Loan agreement—individualsDATE:Parties1[[name] of [address] [and [name] of [address]] OR [name] and [name] both of [address]] (Lender[s])2[[name] of...
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...
Trustees—appointment of trustees
Trustees—appointment of trusteesOriginal trusteesTrustees will usually be appointed by the instrument that brings the trust into existence. The trust...
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...
Assent of assets by personal representatives
Assent of assets by personal representativesPersonal representatives (PRs) can transfer assets to beneficiaries in any way that would also be...
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.
Intermeddling in an estate
Intermeddling in an estateWhat is intermeddling?An individual who performs certain duties which a personal representative (PR) would perform to...
Termination of trusts—methods of termination
Termination of trusts—methods of terminationDuration of a trustThe duration of an express trust is subject to the restrictions imposed by the rules...
Trusts as a vehicle for holding company shares
Trusts as a vehicle for holding company sharesIntroductionMany trusts own shares as part of a portfolio of investments. This Practice Note looks at...
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...
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...
Source of income (and private client)
Source of income (and private client)When advising an individual on cross-border or offshore tax planning, it is important to establish the 'source'...
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,...
Associated legal terms
Forfeiture rule
The rule of public policy which in certain circumstances precludes a person who has unlawfully killed another (or who has unlawfully aided, abetted or procured the death of another) from acquiring a benefit in consequence of the killing. The rule applies whether the benefit is acquired by Will or through intestacy.
Nationality
For most purposes, we use nationality and citizenship interchangeably. A citizen is essentially a passport holder (or someone entitled to a passport). Nationality is actually a little wider than citizenship. For example, a British national would also include British (overseas) nationals.
Principal private residence (PPR) relief
A capital gains tax relief available on the gain realised on the disposal of a dwellinghouse or land occupied and enjoyed with the dwellinghouse, which is or has at any time during the period of ownership been the only or main residence of the owner, or in the case of a trust, of a beneficiary who is entitled to occupy the property under the terms of the trust.
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