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
HMRC has published Issue 141 of the Agent Update, providing a round-up of updates and reminders for tax practitioners....
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has published a policy paper introducing a measure to lower the Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax mandation...
This Q&A considers the duty of personal representatives to notify beneficiaries of an estate and potential claimants under the Inheritance (Provision...
Private Client analysis: The case considers the factors to be considered on an application to be appointed a deputy for personal welfare (PWD) under...
PI & Clinical Negligence analysis: The claimant suffered significant injury in a road traffic accident. He claimed to lack capacity and was...
Latest Private Client Practice Notes
GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION: the government is consulting on proposals to require close companies to report more detail to HMRC on transactions with...
FORTHCOMING CHANGE relating to UK transfer pricing: At Budget 2025, the government announced that it would be proceeding with a requirement for...
Section 423 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (IA 1986) allows for the avoidance of transactions which were designed to defraud creditors. Its provisions are...
These are tables of cases from the Court of Protection from the year 2025 onwards. They are organised by topic including a summary, links to further...
Although the Court of Protection (the court) can make a one-off order in respect of a person who lacks capacity, this is not always the best solution....
Latest Private Client Precedents
Dear [insert organisation name][PROSPECTIVE CLAIMANT’S NAME] AND [PROSPECTIVE DEFENDANT(S) NAME(S)]The estate of [name] deceasedLETTER OF CLAIM—...
CLAIM NO. [insert number][IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICEBUSINESS AND PROPERTY COURTSPROPERTY, TRUSTS AND PROBATE LIST (ChD)]In the estate of the late...
[Your ]Will—explanatory noteThis explanatory note explains the main provisions of your Will in straightforward terms. Please read it alongside your...
Key points•The client’s domicile will have a significant bearing on which law will govern succession to their estate . It is possible to change...
FORTHCOMING CHANGE: Potential changes to Wills Act 1837The Law Commission review of Wills has issued a final report on 16 May 2025 which includes in...
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
Open-ended investment company (OIEC)
For UK tax purposes, a UK company that is incorporated under, and meets the regulatory conditions set out in FSMA 2000.
Overseas transfer charge
The tax charge of 25% of the value of a transfer to a qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme requested on or after 9 March 2017 that is caught by the legislation in section 10, Schedule 4 to the Finance Act 2017.
Statutory scheme
A retirement benefit scheme established by statute usually for public sector employees.
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