Private Client
Plan today for greater peace of mind tomorrow. We provide clear, practical advice to help you protect your assets, look after the people who matter to you and plan confidently for the future. ANP's Private Client team provides Estate Planning services that are tailor-made to your needs and circumstances.
Our estate planning services include preparation of or updates to your Will, creating Lasting Powers of Attorney and establishing trusts to protect and manage your assets. We can help you put clear arrangements in place for yourself, your family and future generations.
Why is a Will important?
Creating a Will gives you peace of mind that the people and things you care about most will be looked after exactly as you intend. A professionally prepared Will allows you to decide who will inherit your money, property and possessions, rather than leaving those decisions to the law.
Having a Will can:
- Ensure your loved ones are provided for in accordance with your wishes.
- Protect your family's future and minimise uncertainty at a difficult time.
- Allow you to appoint guardians for your children.
- Help reduce the potential for disputes between family members.
- Make the administration of your estate simpler and less stressful for those you leave behind.
By putting a Will in place, you remain in control and can have confidence that your legacy will be protected for future generations.
What is a Trust?
A trust is a legal arrangement for managing assets. There are different types of trusts, and they are taxed differently. In a trust, assets are held and managed by one person or people (the trustee) to benefit another person or people (the beneficiary). The person providing the assets is called the settlor.
Different kinds of assets can be put in trust, including:
- Cash
- Property
- Shares
- Land
A trust can be a useful way to protect and manage assets for the people you care about. Trusts are commonly used to:
- Protect family wealth and ensure assets are used as intended.
- Provide for children who are not yet old enough to manage money themselves.
- Support vulnerable or incapacitated individuals who are unable to manage their own affairs.
- Pass on assets during your lifetime while retaining a level of control over how they are used.
- Protect assets after death through a trust created in your Will (known as a Will Trust).
- Manage inherited assets where someone has died without a Will and the law determines how their estate is distributed.
Trusts can offer flexibility, protection, and peace of mind, helping to ensure that your assets are managed and passed on in the way that best suits your family's circumstances.
Types of Trust
There are many different types of trust that can be set up depending on how you want to control your assets.
Lasting Power of Attorney
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) allows you to choose someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you are ever unable to do so yourself.
Life can be unpredictable. Illness, injury, or other unexpected circumstances can affect a person's ability to manage their affairs. Having an LPA in place gives you peace of mind that the right people will be able to help when needed.
Things to consider when making LPAs:
- whether or not you have made a will;
- who you would choose to handle your affairs, if this is necessary;
- what assets or income you have;
- any special wishes about how you want your property or assets to be handled; and
- whether you have a particular medical condition (if so, they will need permission to speak to your doctor)
A Lasting Power of Attorney is an important legal document, so it is crucial that it is prepared correctly. Our experienced solicitors will ensure that you fully understand the decisions you are making, that your wishes are accurately recorded, and that your LPA is valid and ready to be used if the need ever arises. This gives you and your family peace of mind for the future.
When you make a lasting power of attorney, you (the “donor”) appoint one or more people (the “attorneys”) to legally make decisions for you and deal with your affairs when you are not able to do so yourself. There are two types:
The Court of Protection
When a loved one loses the ability to make decisions for themselves and no Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is in place, it may be necessary for the Court of Protection to make decisions and/or appoint a deputy to make ongoing decisions. At ANP Solicitors, we can guide you through the process with clear, practical advice and support during what can often be a difficult and emotional time.
Our Private Client Services
Wills & Estate Planning
Professional will drafting and comprehensive estate planning to protect your legacy
Lasting Powers of Attorney
Protect your future with properly registered LPAs for health and financial affairs
Explore our private client services
Plan ahead with clear advice
Arrange an initial discussion and we will provide sensitive, practical guidance tailored to your circumstances.
Please do not include highly sensitive details at this stage. We will contact you to discuss the appropriate next steps. We may need to carry out a conflict check before confirming whether we can act.