Trusts, Tax and Estate Planning

At May May & Merrimans we offer expert advice on all aspects of personal taxation and estate planning. Our aim is to help you achieve your financial goals, both short and long term. We provide a comprehensive service in structuring your affairs and succession planning with a view to maximising personal and family wealth, whether it comprises land or valuable chattels, business property or other investments. Clients look to us to mitigate the burden of tax and our specialised knowledge in this field is very much geared to formulating an appropriate approach which addresses both immediate and long term needs and objectives according to individual circumstances. Our reputation has been built on over 200 years' experience of managing private clients' affairs and we are totally committed to continuing that tradition by finding solutions to the challenges of asset management in the 21st century.

Strategic tax planning

We have detailed knowledge of the appropriate structures for holding assets, whether through trusts, companies or partnerships. We can offer and implement advice on wills and lifetime gifts or settlements and on minimising capital taxation. We have extensive experience of the complex tax reliefs available for heritage property, and of advising how to extract the maximum benefit from them.

Wills and Powers of Attorney

Your will is a vitally important part of planning to meet family circumstances and substantial tax savings can be achieved by a correctly drawn will. Powers of attorney are also crucial in providing for management of your affairs if you should encounter either sudden or long term health problems.

Probate and Administration of estates

We provide comprehensive estate administration services offering specialist expertise in handling the difficult circumstances following a bereavement, assembling details of estate assets, obtaining probate, dealing with Inheritance Tax issues and distributing the estate; administering intestate estates and dealing with contested wills.

Trusts

We advise on all questions of trust law, and deal with the drafting and execution of trust and settlement documents in many contexts. We carry out the day-to-day administration of about 200 trusts owning many different asset types. Our expertise in specialist trust and tax matters also covers setting up charitable trusts and trusts of life insurance policies.

Tax

We provide comprehensive tax services in the administration of trusts and estates and the preparation of tax returns for individuals.

Portfolio Management

As established family lawyers our clients look to us not only for advice on purely legal matters but also for guidance in managing their general finances. We have close links with stockbrokers and other independent advisers which enable us to offer access to a wide range of high quality financial services, particularly in the areas of investments and insurance.

Estate Planning

  • Advice on all aspects on Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax and Income Tax
  • Agricultural and business reliefs
  • Heritage property and works of art
  • Charitable gifts
  • Insurance and pension arrangements
  • Overseas aspects

Trusts

  • The establishment and restructuring of trusts
  • Advice on all aspects of trust law
  • Offshore aspects
  • Administration of trusts
  • Preparation of accounts and tax returns

Charities

  • Trust or company, choosing the right medium
  • Formation and administration
  • Charities Act schemes

Wills and Probate

  • Preparation of Wills
  • Advice on post-death inheritance variations
  • Executor and estate administration services
  • Inheritance Tax
  • Non-UK domiciliaries and overseas property
  • UK Probate for international estates

Personal Financial and Tax Management

  • Preparation of tax returns / tax compliance
  • Liaising with investment advisers
  • Powers of Attorney
  • Deputyships
  • Court of Protection Orders

Please Note: May May & Merrimans is not authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 but we are able in certain circumstances to offer a range of investment services to clients because we are members of the Law Society. We can provide these investment services if they are an incidental part of the professional services we have been engaged to provide.