Trusts

Passing your assets through the generations

Anyone can use a trust to plan for the future, contrary to public perception that trusts are usually for the wealthiest members of society.

Trusts are a legal arrangement whereby assets are placed into the care of an individual who manages them for the benefit of someone else.

From financing educational costs, providing maintenance for children, grandchildren or other relatives, or simply planning to pass wealth through generations, there are several ways to use trusts. Examples of the different types of trusts include:

• Bare trusts: assets placed in the trust are held in the name of a trustee, yet the beneficiary has the right to all trust capital and income when they turn 18 (or 16 in Scotland).
• Interest-in-possession trusts: the beneficiary receives income generated by the trust but is not entitled to the underlying assets.
• Discretionary trusts: the trustees have absolute power over how the trust assets are used and distributed.

At Dunkley’s, we have considerable experience in advising on the creation of new trusts and managing existing arrangements including:

• Ongoing support of existing trusts
• Correctly and tax-efficiently advising on the structure of trusts
• Maximising claims for business property relief
• Preparing annual trust accounts
• Preparing annual trust and estates tax returns
• Advising beneficiaries of their position 
• Making claims for tax repayments where possible
• Calculating any entry and exit and ten-year charges for the trust

Meet your specialist