From your first Will to inheritance tax planning - plain-English guides on every topic that matters. Written by our team of Institute of Professional Willwriters members, with no jargon and no sales pitch.
The most common question we're asked - and the answer might be more urgent than you think. Here's what's actually at stake if you die without one.
Read articleThe nil-rate band has been frozen at £325,000 since 2009. With October 2024 Budget changes and high Surrey property values, more families face IHT than ever.
Read articleA guardian is the person who would raise your children if both parents died. Most families never choose one. Here is how to think through the decision - and why it cannot wait.
Read articleMirror Wills and second marriages are a dangerous combination. Life Interest Trusts offer a fairer solution - protecting your spouse and your children from a previous relationship.
Read articleProperty Protection Trusts are widely misunderstood. Here is what they genuinely do and do not protect against - and what honest, legitimate care fee planning looks like.
Read articleA Will only works after you die. A Lasting Power of Attorney protects you while you're alive - and without one, losing capacity can leave your family locked out of everything.
Read articleA Lasting Power of Attorney is powerful - but it has limits. Here is exactly what your attorney can and cannot do under each type of LPA.
Read articleLifetime gifting can reduce your inheritance tax liability - but only if it's done correctly. Here is how the seven-year rule, annual exemptions, and regular gifts from income actually work.
Read articleWhen someone dies, the practical and legal steps can feel overwhelming. Here is a clear, ordered guide to what needs to happen - and when.
Read articleMost families avoid this conversation. Here is why it matters, what a good conversation actually covers, and how to approach it without it becoming a difficult occasion.
Read articleChoosing an attorney for your LPA is one of the most consequential decisions in estate planning. Here is how to think through who to ask - and how to have that conversation.
Read articleWills that make the news are never good ones. A boring Will - clear, current, properly executed - is exactly what your family needs. Here is what that looks like.
Read articleThere are three million cohabiting couples in England and Wales. None of them are protected by common law marriage - because it does not exist. Here is what that means in practice.
Read articleA Property Protection Trust protects your share of the family home for your children - but not in every scenario. Here is an honest account of what it does, what it does not, and when it is the right choice.
Read articleThe residence nil-rate band can add £175,000 per person to your IHT threshold - but it comes with conditions, a taper, and several traps. Here is what you actually need to know.
Read articleA Will stored in the wrong place - or nowhere your executor can find it - is a Will that cannot be used. Here is what good storage looks like and how Prime Wills handles it.
Read articleA discretionary trust gives trustees flexibility over who benefits and when - but it is not the right tool for every estate. Here is an honest account of when it helps and when it does not.
Read articleA Will is the foundation of an estate plan, not the whole building. Here is what a complete plan actually looks like - and the honest questions that tell you where yours has gaps.
Read articleA Health and Welfare LPA lets you choose who makes decisions about your care and medical treatment if you lose capacity. Here is what it covers, how it differs from a financial LPA, and why it matters.
Read articleChoosing an executor is one of the most important decisions in your Will. Here is what the role actually involves, how many to appoint, and what to tell them before you sign.
Read articleDivorce changes what your Will does - but not in the way most people expect. Here is what the final order does, what it does not do, and why the separation period is the most dangerous gap of all.
Read articleEstate planning done well is about people, not paperwork. Here is what we believe, how we work, and why every client receives an annual review as standard.
Read articleGrandparents can give significant sums to grandchildren within HMRC's rules - but the exemptions are specific and the seven-year rule is only part of the picture.
Read articleA Lasting Power of Attorney cannot be used until it has been registered with the OPG. Here is what the registration process involves, how long it takes, and what to do once it is complete.
Read articleMoving house does not invalidate your Will - but it can leave your estate planning significantly out of step with your circumstances. Here is what actually needs reviewing.
Read articleFrozen thresholds, the approaching pension change, and reduced reliefs for business and agricultural property are reshaping the IHT landscape. Here is what matters and what to do.
Read articleStart with our free Family Risk Review - ten minutes that will show you exactly where your planning stands and what to do next.