Full IHT 400 Probate & Inheritance Tax Service

Standard Will Package is offered non-face to face by telephone/video link or face to face and includes your instructions (or exclusions):

What Do I Need To Complete and Return? 

• DOWNLOAD: Will Application Form then complete and return to us.

What Do I Get For My Money? Read/See

• Sample Will including Trusts in Will

For Individuals or Couples With Different Will Requirements.

• Appointing executors and trustees
• Appointing guardians if you have children under 18 years old including trusts for children to age 18/21 or an age you specify
• Monetary gifts, physical gifts, business/shares gifts, charitable gifts and political party gifts
• Organ donation preferences
• Main beneficiaries for distribution of your main, residual estate after any gifts above
• Exclusions - if you wish to exclude people from your Will
• Funeral requirements
• DOES NOT include: Inheritance Tax Trusts, Asset Protection Trusts or Property Life Interest in Possession Trusts for protecting wealth/property and inheritance tax planning (see Advanced Wills)

We will prepare and send a draft Will for you to check all is correct and then send your final, bound Will in the post for signature and witnesses.

Note for Couples:  If your Will requirements are exactly the same, you SHOULD NOT use this product but select the MIRROR WILLS product for an additional saving. 

But, if a couple requires two different Wills then these Standard Will prices apply and you should choose 2 X Standard Wills when prompted in the order process.

Wills and Will writing services are not currently regulated by the Law Society, or the Financial Conduct Authority, or any other regulatory body.  That said, as part of us qualifying as Chartered Insurers and then Chartered Financial Planners (both 1st Class Honours Degree standard) under the Royal Charter granted by King George V on 17 January, 1912 and also becoming Fellows of the Personal Financial Society, we studied and passed the Chartered Insurance Institute’s advanced modules in English Law, Property and Pecuniary Insurance Law, Life Insurance Law, Pensions Law and Taxation and Trust Law (each module at ‘A’ level standard) as well as having full, professional indemnity insurance cover of £1,850,000 to protect both you our clients as well as ourselves.

Pricing / Purchase Options

Standard 'Mirror' Wills Package is offered for couples who have EXACTLY the same Will requirements (mirrored) non-face to face by telephone/video link or face to face and includes your instructions (or exclusions) for X 2 mirror Wills:

What Do I Need To Complete and Return? 

• DOWNLOAD: Will Application Form then complete and return to us.

For Individuals or Couples With Exactly the Same Will Requirements.

• Appointing executors and trustees
• Appointing guardians if you have children under 18 years old including trusts for children to age 18/21 or an age you specify
• Monetary gifts, physical gifts, business/shares gifts, charitable gifts and political party gifts
• Organ donation preferences
• Main beneficiaries for distribution of your main, residual estate after any gifts above
• Exclusions - if you wish to exclude people from your Will
• Funeral requirements
• DOES NOT include: Inheritance Tax Trusts, Asset Protection Trusts or Property Life Interest in Possession Trusts for protecting wealth/property and inheritance tax planning (see Advanced Wills)

We will prepare and send draft Wills for you to check all is correct and then send your final, bound Wills in the post for signature and witnesses.

What Do I Get For My Money? Read/See

• Sample Will including Trusts in Will

Note:  If your Will requirements are NOT exactly the same, you SHOULD NOT use this product but select the STANDARD WILL product and choose 2 X Standard Wills when prompted in the order process.

Wills and Will writing services are not currently regulated by the Law Society, or the Financial Conduct Authority, or any other regulatory body.  That said, as part of us qualifying as Chartered Insurers and then Chartered Financial Planners (both 1st Class Honours Degree standard) under the Royal Charter granted by King George V on 17 January, 1912 and also becoming Fellows of the Personal Financial Society, we studied and passed the Chartered Insurance Institute’s advanced modules in English Law, Property and Pecuniary Insurance Law, Life Insurance Law, Pensions Law and Taxation and Trust Law (each module at ‘A’ level standard) as well as having full, professional indemnity insurance cover of £1,850,000 to protect both you our clients as well as ourselves.

Pricing / Purchase Options

Advanced Will Package for additional wealth, asset protection and inheritance tax planning offered non-face to face by telephone/video link or face to face and includes your instructions (or exclusions):

What Do I Need To Complete and Return? 

• DOWNLOAD: Will Application Form then complete and return to us.

For Individuals or Couples With Different 'Advanced' Will Requirements.

• Appointing executors and trustees
• Appointing guardians if you have children under 18 years old including trusts for children to age 18/21 or an age you specify
• Monetary gifts, physical gifts, business/shares gifts, charitable gifts and political party gifts
• Organ donation preferences
• Main beneficiaries for distribution of your main, residual estate after any gifts above
• Exclusions - if you wish to exclude people from your Will
• Funeral requirements
• Includes: Inheritance Tax Trusts and/or Asset Protection Trusts for protecting wealth and inheritance tax planning.
• DOES NOT INCLUDE Property Life Interest Trust with Severance of 'Joint Tenancy' to 'Tenants in Common' via HM Land Registry that may offer additional protection for the residential home. 

See Sever Jt Tenancy

We will prepare and send a draft Will for you to check all is correct and then send your final, bound Will in the post for signature and witnesses.

What Do I Get For My Money? Read/See

• Sample Will including Trusts in Will

Note for Couples:  If your Advanced Will requirements are exactly the same, you SHOULD NOT use this product but select the ADVANCED MIRROR WILLS product for an additional saving. 

But, if a couple requires two different Advanced Wills then these Advanced Will prices apply and you should choose 2 X Advanced Wills when prompted in the order process.

Wills and Will writing services are not currently regulated by the Law Society, or the Financial Conduct Authority, or any other regulatory body.  That said, as part of us qualifying as Chartered Insurers and then Chartered Financial Planners (both 1st Class Honours Degree standard) under the Royal Charter granted by King George V on 17 January, 1912 and also becoming Fellows of the Personal Financial Society, we studied and passed the Chartered Insurance Institute’s advanced modules in English Law, Property and Pecuniary Insurance Law, Life Insurance Law, Pensions Law and Taxation and Trust Law (each module at ‘A’ level standard) as well as having full, professional indemnity insurance cover of £1,850,000 to protect both you our clients as well as ourselves.

Pricing / Purchase Options

Advanced 'Mirror' Wills Package is offered for couples who have EXACTLY the same Will and Trust requirements (mirrored) for additional wealth, asset protection and inheritance tax planning using non-face to face by telephone/video link or face to face means and includes your instructions (or exclusions) for X 2 advanced mirror Wills:

What Do I Need To Complete and Return? 

• DOWNLOAD: Will Application Form then complete and return to us.

For Individuals or Couples With Exactly the Same Will Requirements.

• Appointing executors and trustees
• Appointing guardians if you have children under 18 years old including trusts for children to age 18/21 or an age you specify
• Monetary gifts, physical gifts, business/shares gifts, charitable gifts and political party gifts
• Organ donation preferences
• Main beneficiaries for distribution of your main, residual estate after any gifts above
• Exclusions - if you wish to exclude people from your Will
• Funeral requirements
• Includes: Inheritance Tax Trusts and/or Asset Protection Trusts for protecting wealth and inheritance tax planning.
• DOES NOT INCLUDE Property Life Interest Trust with Severance of 'Joint Tenancy' to 'Tenants in Common' via HM Land Registry that may offer additional protection for the residential home. 

See Sever Jt Tenancy

We will prepare and send draft Wills for you to check all is correct and then send your final, bound Wills in the post for signature and witnesses.

What Do I Get For My Money? Read/See

• Sample Will including Trusts in Will

Note:  If your Advanced Will requirements are NOT exactly the same, you SHOULD NOT use this product but select the ADVANCED WILL product and choose 2 X Advanced Wills when prompted in the order process.

Wills and Will writing services are not currently regulated by the Law Society, or the Financial Conduct Authority, or any other regulatory body.  That said, as part of us qualifying as Chartered Insurers and then Chartered Financial Planners (both 1st Class Honours Degree standard) under the Royal Charter granted by King George V on 17 January, 1912 and also becoming Fellows of the Personal Financial Society, we studied and passed the Chartered Insurance Institute’s advanced modules in English Law, Property and Pecuniary Insurance Law, Life Insurance Law, Pensions Law and Taxation and Trust Law (each module at ‘A’ level standard) as well as having full, professional indemnity insurance cover of £1,850,000 to protect both you our clients as well as ourselves.

Pricing / Purchase Options

There are two routes to file financial records and taxes due or not with HMRC using the simplified “Excepted Estate” route or if you need to, the Full IHT 400. 

This service is for a Simplified “Excepted Estate” route for HMRC on Death.

Use an Excepted Estate Return (Simplified IHT205‑style process) if:

The estate meets all of the following:

• Death on or after 6 April 2004, and
  • Before 6 April 2025: deceased was UK‑domiciled
  • On/after 6 April 2025: deceased was a long‑term UK resident
• Gross estate value is within the relevant limits (see categories below)
• Foreign assets, if any, are ≤ £100,000
• Trust assets, if any, are in a single trust and within limits
• Specified transfers (lifetime gifts) are ≤ £250,000
• No gift with reservation (GWR) of benefit
• No complex reliefs claimed (e.g., Agricultural and Business Property Relief)

The Three Types of Excepted Estate:

A.  Low‑Value Excepted Estate - 

• Used where Gross estate ≤ Nil‑Rate Band (£325,000), Trust assets (if any): ≤ £250,000, Foreign assets (if any): ≤ £100,000, Specified transfers: ≤ £250,000, No Gifts With Reservation, UK Domicile/long‑term residence rules depending on date of death.

B.  Exempt Excepted Estate

• Used where the estate is large but fully exempt because it all passes to a spouse/civil partner or charity.
• Typical scenario: £1.5m estate left entirely to a UK‑domiciled spouse → qualifies.

C.  “Transferable NRB” Excepted Estate (post‑2022 rules)

• Used where Gross estate ≤ £650,000 (NRB + full transferable NRB), No foreign assets, No trusts, Gifts in last 7 years within annual exemptions, Deceased UK‑domiciled / long‑term UK resident.
• Typical scenario: Widowed individual, modest estate, no gifts.

See: Excepted Estates v Full IHT Returns

If the estate does not qualify as an 'Excepted Estate' then Full IHT 400 Returns will be required

See: Full IHT 400 Probate Service

An Initial and Complete Service for a Simplified “Excepted Estate” for HMRC to secure Probate for the Deceased's Estate Including Dealing with Property, Trusts, Existing Insurance, Pensions, Investments, Tax, Income and Status:

We act as agent of the executor or personal representative of the deceased to research, gather financial information and report on estate property, gifts within annual allowances, no regular gifts from excess/surplus income, no 'ad hoc' gifts within the last 7 years as potentially exempt transfers that then become chargeable transfers on death, no gifts with reservation, no taper relief applicable, insurance, pensions, investments and insurance portfolio to include a full review of mortgages and debts (where applicable), tax reliefs, premiums paid, charges, penalties, investment returns, values, funds, proving the Will.

We will also consider deed of variation, assignment where applicable, deal with proof of zero inheritance tax calculation, dealing with HMRC, completion of self assessment income tax forms on death, nil inheritance tax returns and estate forms with considerations for tax, trust, best use of tax relief options for the deceased’s estate.  

Estate valuation, zero inheritance tax calculation confirmation, producing Estate Accounts and dealing with HMRC and Land Registry to the point of executors submitting the Will and Excepted Estate Inheritance Tax confirmation to Probate for approval of the Will and distribution of the estate.  Estate forms and any applications will be handled by us but signed by you as Executor/Personal Representative.  Works are complete when probate is granted.

Fees are made up of two parts to make up the total fee:

1. Core/Fixed Fee Element - this is a fixed, flat fee per estate, whether the estate is value £50,000, £100,000, £500,000 or more, there are some works and analysis required that are the same irrespective of the size of the estate.
2. % Estate Value Element – this is a 'one off' fee based upon the value of the estate.  It is representative of the additional works that we may take on as your estate adviser.  A smaller estate will have less work/data gathering involved and possibly no inheritance taxes to pay, a larger estate is likely to have much work works involved and more complex inheritance tax forms and submissions and this is reflected in part of the fee being linked to the estate value.

These are 'ONE OFF' fees.  There is NO ONGOING % adviser charge.

Additional Fees That You May Need to Pay Outside This Service:

• Probate Court Application Fee, Additional Copies of the Grant, Property Valuation Fees, Unclaimed Asset and Bankruptcy Search Fees, Public/Gazette Notices and Auctioneer Fees if any assets are sold at Auction.

Wills and Will writing services are not currently regulated by the Law Society, or the Financial Conduct Authority, or any other regulatory body.  That said, as part of us qualifying as Chartered Insurers and then Chartered Financial Planners (both 1st Class Honours Degree standard) under the Royal Charter granted by King George V on 17 January, 1912 and also becoming Fellows of the Personal Financial Society, we studied and passed the Chartered Insurance Institute’s advanced modules in English Law, Property and Pecuniary Insurance Law, Life Insurance Law, Pensions Law and Taxation and Trust Law (each module at ‘A’ level standard) as well as having full, professional indemnity insurance cover of £1,850,000 to protect both you our clients as well as ourselves.

Pricing / Purchase Options

For couples that own property: A classic inheritance tax planning strategy for your property and an indirect way to also protect from care fees means testing. 

What Do I Need To Complete and Return? 

• DOWNLOAD: Will Application Form then complete and return to us.

What Do I Get For My Money? Read/See:

• Sample Severance of Joint Tenancy Deed, Land Registry Form and Will with Life Interest Trust

Severance of Joint Tenancy to Tenants in Common:  For couples, most property is owned as 'joint tenants' i.e.  you jointly own the whole property.  If one dies, the survivor already does and instantly owns the whole property anyway.  By changing the way a couple owns the property to 'tenants in common' (imagine a 'red line' down the middle of the property, you own your half and your partner owns the other half), it enables you on 1st death to place your share of the property in trust (using your Will) for the benefit of other loved ones e.g.  children.

Lifetime Interest In Property Trust:  Your surviving partner (and any other people you designate) can continue to live in the WHOLE property (and indeed move home if they wish) but other loved ones own the deceased's half.  Upon second death the whole property is passed to beneficiaries.  This means that part of the property does not count towards the 2nd death inheritance tax liabilities and indeed cannot be included in any means test for care.  We will also draft the most suitable Life Interest Trust wording and any Discretionary or Nil Rate Band Will Trust wordings to meet your needs within your Will.

Will Clarity Statement:  We will also draft, certify and sign a separate Clarity Statement, where applicable, in case of dispute or your Will being contested if you have made reservations or exclusions in your Will or have given control to another Trustee on behalf of some or all beneficiaries under a Discretionary trust.

What we do:

• Draft a Severance of Joint Tenancy Deed to establish 'Tenants in Common' that you both sign
• Complete Land Registry forms to change land ownership title to 'Tenants in Common' and send the completed forms together with the Severance Deed to the Land Registry to be registered.
• Draft Two 'Advanced' Wills, one for each of you including your normal Will and Trust requirements but in addition include a Lifetime Interest In Property Trust.

NOTE:  To qualify for this, you should be mortgage free i.e.  own your home outright.

Wills and Will writing services are not currently regulated by the Law Society, or the Financial Conduct Authority, or any other regulatory body.  That said, as part of us qualifying as Chartered Insurers and then Chartered Financial Planners (both 1st Class Honours Degree standard) under the Royal Charter granted by King George V on 17 January, 1912 and also becoming Fellows of the Personal Financial Society, we studied and passed the Chartered Insurance Institute’s advanced modules in English Law, Property and Pecuniary Insurance Law, Life Insurance Law, Pensions Law and Taxation and Trust Law (each module at ‘A’ level standard) as well as having full, professional indemnity insurance cover of £1,850,000 to protect both you our clients as well as ourselves.

Pricing / Purchase Options

Simple Codicils to make changes to your Will are offered non-face to face by telephone/video link or face to face as changes to circumstances over the years may change what we want in our Wills.

Codicil or New Will?

• If simple changes are required, why pay the full costs for a brand new Will when a 1 page codicil can be drafted at a quarter of the cost?

What Do I Need To Complete To Start With? 

• Nothing, no forms, no questionnaire, just accept our fee quote.

Once Accepted, To Draft Your Codicil We Will Need You To: 

• Send us a copy or photographs of your current Will (and any previous codicils). 
• These can be uploaded to our secure documents facility or emailed to us or simply show us via a live zoom/teams type video call as you prefer.

There is no need to make codicils or changes to Wills if you or another have simply changed address.

Examples of Changes to Clauses in your Will.

• Changing executors and trustees.
• Changing guardians if you have children including changing trustees for any trusts for children in your Will.
• Add new gifts or changes to existing monetary gifts, physical gifts, business/shares gifts, charitable gifts and political party gifts.
• Changes to organ donation preferences.
• Adding new children/grandchildren as beneficiaries to a Will that already has existing children/grandchildren as beneficiaries.
• Changes to the main beneficiaries for distribution of your main, residual estate after any specific gifts.
• Changes to funeral arrangements.

This 'simple' codicil service DOES NOT include:

• Excluding people from your Will or making new exclusions as we would also need to draft an additional Will Clarity Statement should your exclusion ever be contested in a Court of Law.
• Adding new clauses for children or grandchildren born after your Will was drafted where no children, grandchildren and/or child trust wordings were included in your existing Will.
• Changes to or adding new Inheritance Tax Trusts, Asset Protection Trusts or Property Life Interest in Possession Trusts for protecting wealth/property and inheritance tax planning.

We will prepare and send a draft Codicil based upon your instructions for you to check all is correct and then send your final Codicil for signature and witnessing.

We charge fixed fee services based upon the number of clauses you want changing in your Will.

Wills and Will writing services are not currently regulated by the Law Society, or the Financial Conduct Authority, or any other regulatory body.  That said, as part of us qualifying as Chartered Insurers and then Chartered Financial Planners (both 1st Class Honours Degree standard) under the Royal Charter granted by King George V on 17 January, 1912 and also becoming Fellows of the Personal Financial Society, we studied and passed the Chartered Insurance Institute’s advanced modules in English Law, Property and Pecuniary Insurance Law, Life Insurance Law, Pensions Law and Taxation and Trust Law (each module at ‘A’ level standard) as well as having full, professional indemnity insurance cover of £1,850,000 to protect both you our clients as well as ourselves.

Pricing / Purchase Options

Immediate Reduction of Estate for Inheritance Tax via a Discounted Gift Trust Lump Sum Investment Portfolio for UK Residents.

An 'off the shelf', packaged lump sum investment via a Discounted Gift Trust using Insurance Investment Bonds to reduce its value IMMEDIATELY for inheritance tax.

Immediate Estate Reduction: For example, you decide to invest £100,000 today.  The immediately value for inheritance tax could be as low as e.g.  £50,000 depending upon your age, the younger you are, the bigger the discount.  Even though for inheritance tax estate valuation purposes, it is valued at (at a discount) of £50,000, the real value on day 1 of the investment that beneficiaries will receive is still £100,000.  It has not lost investment value, its has solely been reclassified as a 'discounted gift trust' meaning that the value of the gift for inheritance tax purposes and calculation is £50,000.

7 Year Rule:  Totally outside your estate for inheritance tax purposes after 7 years.

This is a legitimate investment in trust approved by HMRC.  You can still access the investment for a regular 'income' but you lose access to the original capital as this is in trust for loved ones.

We will conduct independent, unbiased, in depth research, advice and analysis to construct an investment portfolio (UK regulated investment plans only) on your given income/growth profile and other requirements including the settlement into a discounted gift trust.  It will include research and a full written suitability report on suggested investment portfolio including

• Product type recommendations and suggested amounts for each product
• Named Investment provider recommendations as well as fund sector and specific investment fund recommendations in line with your attitude towards risk
• Application forms will be handled by us although all investment monies will paid direct to the investment company
• We do not handle client investment money and will only accept money payable for our agreed advice fee
• VAT free as majority of works are for intermediation on regulated products.

Fees are made up of two parts to make up the total fee:

1. Fixed Fee Element - this is a fixed, flat fee per investment portfolio, whether you have £30,000, £50,000, £100,000 or £1,000,000 to invest, the same 'timed work' and analysis is required.  Up to 25% discounts apply when selecting Non Face to Face/Remote services and/or Paid Upfront.
2. % Risk Fee Element – this is a 'one off' fee based upon the value of the investment.  It is representative of the works involved to complete the portfolio.  In short the larger the portfolio, the more investment products, application forms and funds we may recommend for spread, checking, chasing contract documents and unit statements plus the liability that we take on as advisers and also, the fees that we pay to insurers, ombudsman levies and regulator levies that are based upon the volumes of work that we do.  E.g.  the works and liability we take on for a £50,000 investment is much lower than for a £200,000 investment, hence a proportionate charge for this.
3. These are 'ONE OFF' fees.  There is NO ONGOING % adviser charge paid to us, unlike many other advisers who take an ongoing % each year meaning more of your investment and growth stays in your fund.
   

Pricing / Purchase Options

Putting All Future Growth In Trust and Stopping Your Estate Value Grow for Ever Higher Inheritance Taxes via an Inheritance Loan Trust Lump Sum Investment Portfolio for UK Residents.

An 'off the shelf', packaged lump sum investment via an Inheritance Loan Trust using Insurance Investment Bonds to reduce how quickly your estate grows for inheritance tax purposes by putting that growth in trust.

Putting Future Investment Growth In Trust: A simple trust is set up, usually with just a £1 in it e.g.  for loved ones.  You then LEND the trust some money e.g.  £100,000.  IT IS AN INTEREST FREE LOAN.  YOU DO NOT LOSE ACCESS TO YOUR ORIGINAL CAPITAL.  The trust then invests the money for growth.  Any growth acheived is immediately outside your estate for inheritance tax purposes.  You can decide to have regular loan repayments back to you e.g.  5% pa of the original investment.  You may decide not to have loan repayments initially and leave funds invested for growth.  You can recall your 'loan' in full or in part at any time.  The growth is in trust, the loan is your original capital.  On your death, the loan (if any is still outstanding) is repaid to your estate and included in any inheritance tax calculations.  Any investment growth is all outside your estate.

Growth Rule:  100% of all growth is outside your estate for inheritance tax purposes immediately.  You do not lose access to your original capital.

This is a legitimate investment in trust approved by HMRC.  You can still access the original capital investment for a regular 'income' with the loan repayment facility but you lose access to the growth as this is in trust for loved ones.

We will conduct independent, unbiased, in depth research, advice and analysis to construct an investment portfolio (UK regulated investment plans only) on your given income/growth profile and other requirements including the settlement into a discounted gift trust.  It will include research and a full written suitability report on suggested investment portfolio including

• Product type recommendations and suggested amounts for each product
• Named Investment provider recommendations as well as fund sector and specific investment fund recommendations in line with your attitude towards risk
• Application forms will be handled by us although all investment monies will paid direct to the investment company
• We do not handle client investment money and will only accept money payable for our agreed advice fee
• VAT free as majority of works are for intermediation on regulated products.

Fees are made up of two parts to make up the total fee:

1. Fixed Fee Element - this is a fixed, flat fee per investment portfolio, whether you have £30,000, £50,000, £100,000 or £1,000,000 to invest, the same 'timed work' and analysis is required.  Up to 25% discounts apply when selecting Non Face to Face/Remote services and/or Paid Upfront.
2. % Risk Fee Element – this is a 'one off' fee based upon the value of the investment.  It is representative of the works involved to complete the portfolio.  In short the larger the portfolio, the more investment products, application forms and funds we may recommend for spread, checking, chasing contract documents and unit statements plus the liability that we take on as advisers and also, the fees that we pay to insurers, ombudsman levies and regulator levies that are based upon the volumes of work that we do.  E.g.  the works and liability we take on for a £50,000 investment is much lower than for a £200,000 investment, hence a proportionate charge for this.
3. These are 'ONE OFF' fees.  There is NO ONGOING % adviser charge paid to us, unlike many other advisers who take an ongoing % each year meaning more of your investment and growth stays in your fund.
   

Pricing / Purchase Options