£5,000
The maximum fixed penalty for an unregistered express trust under the HMRC Trust Registration Service (TRS).
£175,000
The current Residence Nil-Rate Band allowance, frequently leading to a loss of up to £140,000 tax free for families.
Over 500,000
Trusts that were required to register with HMRC's TRS by the September 2022 deadline, penalties apply to the trustees!
1 in 3
Wills involving property fail to optimise Inheritance Tax legislation, according to legal sector data.
Why Many Families Are Checking Their Documents Now
Trusts and estate law in the UK have undergone their most significant reforms in a generation. Many arrangements that were drafted a decade ago now carry hidden risks:
The TRS Compliance Risk
Since September 2022, most UK trusts, including non-taxable trusts, are required to register with HMRC's Trust Registration Service. Failure to register carries a fixed penalty of £5,000, and most trustees are unaware that the penalties fall on them.
If you have concerns about a trust, contact us for a Trust Review.
The Residence Nil-Rate Band
Wills written before 2016 may be inadvertently out of date, as legislation has changed and this could potentially lead to penalties and loss of the RNRB allowance, worth up to £140,000 tax-free to families. It’s wise to review your will every 3 years.
Contact us to Review Your Will.
Legislation and Family Dynamics
All Trusts require maintenance to reflect changed legislation and changes within the family; at a bare minimum, the trustees need to meet and record a minute on an annual basis. Failure to maintain a trust can render an existing trust unfit for purpose, potentially triggering disputes or unintended tax consequences. If you have concerns:
Contact us for a Trust Review for a small charge.
Take a Look at Our Special Deals
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Who We Support: Specialist Advice for Every Stage
Whether you are managing a complex estate or simply need to update an old will or trust, we provide the technical expertise to assist you.
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Complex Estates (£2.5m+): Comprehensive inheritance tax (IHT) planning and bespoke forward detailed planning.
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Families: Support for families with older Will Trusts, ensuring they do not incur penalties for the trustees and are still suitable for family members.
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Professional Partners: A trusted referral point for Accountants, IFAs, and Solicitors who need specialist assistance to handle the technical "heavy lifting" of trust administration and compliance for their clients.
Whether your case is a simple update or a complex restructuring, you will work directly with an experienced adviser who treats your family’s legacy with the attention it deserves.
Not Sure Where You Stand? Find Out in Two Minutes
Our Trust & Will Health Check is a short diagnostic built specifically for trustees, beneficiaries, and advisers managing estates with significant assets. It assesses:
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TRS registration status and compliance risk.
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Whether your Will is structured to capture current IHT allowances.
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Whether life changes have created governance gaps in your trust.
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Your immediate priority: compliance, tax efficiency, or document update.
At the end, you'll receive a summary of your risk profile and recommended next steps.
Have an Older Will or Trust?
Not every arrangement needs a complex overhaul—sometimes, you just need a professional "all clear".
Many families hold "Legacy Trusts" (often set up years ago within a Will) that were perfectly standard at the time but have been left behind by changing UK tax laws. While these might feel like small administrative hurdles, getting them right provides essential peace of mind.
We provide a streamlined review service for:
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Discretionary Will Trusts: Determining if they are still the most tax-efficient way to pass on your home.
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TRS "Catch-up": Quick, hassle-free registration for older trusts that now fall under HMRC’s mandatory reporting.
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Trustee Resignations: Helping family members step down or update who is in charge of an old family trust.
The Goal: To ensure your documents are compliant and your family is protected without making the process more complicated than it needs to be.
The People Behind The Planning
We believe that professional advice is only as good as the relationship behind it. When you call us about an old will, a trust, or a complex estate, you won't be passed to a junior clerk or an automated system. You’ll speak directly with a senior specialist who values clarity over jargon.
Our Approach: Expertly Guided, Human-Led
We’ve spent years navigating the technical intricacies of HMRC compliance and inheritance tax law so that you don’t have to. Whether we are helping a family modernise a "Legacy Trust" or restructuring a £10m estate, our goal is the same: to provide the peace of mind that comes from knowing your affairs are in order.
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Senior-Level Only: Every review is conducted by an experienced adviser, ensuring no detail—large or small—is overlooked.
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Plain English: We translate complex trust legislation into clear, actionable advice.
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A Partner for Life: We don’t just "set and forget". We’re here for the quick questions today and the big transitions tomorrow.
Our job is to take the weight off your shoulders. We handle the paperwork and the 'what-ifs', leaving you free to focus on what matters most—your family.
How We Can Help
No obligations, just clear answers.
Whether you have a specific question about an old Will Trust or you’re looking for a comprehensive estate review, the first step is a simple, no-pressure conversation. We’ll help you determine if your documents need an update or if you’re already in the clear.
Choose the best way to connect:
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Book a 15-Minute "Initial Look":
Pick a time for a brief call. We can look at your current Trust or Will and give you an immediate sense of what (if anything) needs to be done.
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Send a Quick Enquiry:
Not ready for a call? Use our "Quick Question" form below. Most legacy trust queries can be answered in a single email.
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The Trust & Will Health Check:
If you prefer to see the data first, take two minutes to run through our diagnostic tool. It’s the fastest way to spot potential tax or compliance gaps.