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Recommendations

Recommendations


Below you can review 3 of our Key Feature Documents in PDF format that show our recommended estate planning for the following:

  1. SINGLE WIDOWED PEOPLE

  2. MARRIED COUPLES/CIVIL PARTNERS WITH ESTATES VALUED LESS THAN 2 X NIL RATE BANDS (NRB), AND NON-MARRIED COUPLES (ANY ESTATE VALUE)

  3. MARRIED COUPLES/CIVIL PARTNERS ESTATE VALUED MORE THAN 2 X NIL RATE BANDS (NRB)

 

Slightly more comprehensive versions are available via our client portal but for ease of viewing, these simpler 2 page documents present a clear overview.

 

As you can see by looking through this website each area of estate planning can appear quite confusing at first. 

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So, lets simplify things by looking at our Estate Planning recommendations in 3 simple steps, by ensuring you have in place the following:

  1. ​Power of Attorney

  2. The Correct Will and asset ownership

  3. Document Storage & Reviews/Updates

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As part of our professional advice process, we do not recommend a “Basic Will” for estate planning purposes as Trustees need the correct Will Trust in place to use their discretion to protect assets or a vulnerable person (see Trusts Discretion section of website).

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Of course clients can also give instructions for a 'Basic Will', if they do not hold any assets of value or they have very straight forward requirements. 

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Tax Bands 2025/26:

The current Nil Rate Band (NRB) is £325,000 (frozen since 2009/10)

The current Residence Nil Rate Band (RNRB) is £175,000 (frozen since 2020, see RNRB in Wills Misc section for more information about this allowance and who qualifies)

Reference to any 'Combined' NRB may refer to both of these allowances. Please note allowances are scheduled to be frozen further until April 2031. 

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With an increasing number of estates being brought within the scope of inheritance tax (IHT), it is now more important than ever to consider Will Options C and D as part of effective generational IHT mitigation and tax planning.

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Scenario 1 Death Planning Solution for KFB 104 (Options considered Will Package C) :
SINGLE/WIDOWED PEOPLE

Scenario 2 Death Planning Solution for KFB 101 (Options considered Will Package C or D):
MARRIED COUPLES/CIVIL PARTNERS WITH ESTATES VALUED LESS THAN 2 X NIL RATE BANDS (NRB), AND NON-MARRIED COUPLES (ANY ESTATE VALUE)

Scenario 3 Death Planning Solution for KFB 102 (Options considered Will Package D):
MARRIED COUPLES/CIVIL PARTNERS ESTATE VALUED MORE THAN 2 X NIL RATE BANDS (NRB)

Scenario 4 Estate Planning on 2nd Death for couples (both alive)
There is no Key Feature Sheet as all our planning recommendations are on 1st death.

However, sometimes couples may want 'everything' to pass to the surviving spouse/civil partner/person on 1st death but still require some estate planning on 2nd death.

This approach is not recommended but for some clients, they may want to enjoy all the protection and discretion Trustees can offer for their beneficiaries but on a 2nd death basis.

This estate planning approach needs careful consideration of all the risks and is shown purely for discussion purposes.


Lasting Power of Attorney
KFB 11 Option 'E' in our Package Options or Section 4 in our Services/Price List

Document Storage
Document storage at Countrywide Tax & Trust Corporation Ltd (CTT) cost £35.00 per year plus vat (£42.00)

Your Will is the most important document you will ever make and what you do with it once you have signed it needs careful consideration.

Did you know that if your Will cannot be found after you have passed away that the law assumes that you must have destroyed your Will and did not wish it's contents to be taken account of. This could have devastating consequences for your chosen beneficiaries and your estate planning.

By choosing to store your Will (and other legal documents) in secure storage you can prevent a disappointed beneficiary destroying the Will (if left at home) and have peace of mind your Executors know how to access your Will when the time comes.

Document Updates
South Coast Legal Services Limited also offer a range of low cost update plans starting from only £2.99 per month. Please ask for details as we offer a variety of affordable plans whenever you need a review or have changes/updates.

Advanced Estate Planning
Once all of the above options have been fully considered and, where appropriate, implemented, we can also offer a range of advanced estate planning strategies, involving Life Assurance, Pension Death in Service and Lifetime Trusts etc. Due to the complexity involved, any further planning is bespoke and tailored to each client’s individual needs.

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