Estate & Trust Planning – BC&A Chartered Accountants

What It Is

Bespoke planning that protects what matters most.

Without proper estate and trust planning, a significant portion of your wealth may be lost to inheritance tax, passed incorrectly or become the subject of family disputes.

The decisions you make now, whether around your will, the use of trusts, lifetime gifting or the structure of your business interests, shape what your family receives and how smoothly the transfer of wealth takes place.

BC&A works closely with high-net-worth individuals, business owners and farming families to develop strategies that reflect both financial objectives and family values. We work in close collaboration with trusted legal partners to deliver a fully joined-up approach to protecting and transferring your estate.

Our Estate And Trust Planning Services

We provide practical, tailored advice across the full range of estate and trust planning matters including:

Inheritance Tax Planning — Structuring your estate to reduce IHT exposure and make full use of available reliefs including Business Property Relief and Agricultural Property Relief
Trust Planning — Advice on establishing and managing trusts for asset protection, succession planning and tax efficiency across generations
Will Planning — Ensuring your will is properly structured, aligned with your estate plan and adapted to your family's specific circumstances
Lifetime Gifting — Strategic use of annual exemptions, potentially exempt transfers and other gifting reliefs to reduce your taxable estate during your lifetime
Lasting Powers of Attorney — Planning for incapacity to ensure your financial and personal affairs are managed according to your wishes

Complex Arrangements We Regularly Advise On

Our team has particular experience in navigating more complex estate and succession situations, including:

Multi-Generational Wealth Transfers — Long-term structuring to preserve and pass wealth across multiple generations tax-efficiently
Business Succession Planning — Ensuring ownership transitions are handled in a way that protects both the business and the family
Agricultural Property and Farming Estates — Specialist advice on Agricultural Property Relief and the preservation of farming assets
Blended Family Arrangements — Tailored planning where family structures are complex or involve children from previous relationships
Cross-Border Estate Issues — Advice for individuals with assets or family members in multiple jurisdictions

Please note: Some aspects of estate planning, including will writing and certain types of trusts, may fall outside the scope of FCA regulation. BC&A will make clear at all times which aspects of advice are and are not regulated activities.

Estate & Trust Planning FAQs

When should I start estate planning?

As early as possible. Many of the most effective inheritance tax reliefs, including Business Property Relief and the use of trusts, require assets to have been held or structures to have been in place for a minimum qualifying period. Planning started years before a transfer of wealth takes place delivers significantly better outcomes than planning begun in response to an urgent event.

What is the difference between a will and a trust?

A will sets out how your assets are to be distributed after your death and only takes effect at that point. A trust is a legal arrangement that can be created during your lifetime or on death, allowing assets to be held and managed for the benefit of specified individuals under defined conditions. Trusts can provide greater control over how and when assets pass, as well as significant tax planning opportunities that a will alone cannot achieve.

How much inheritance tax will my estate pay?

The standard rate is 40% on the value of your estate above the nil-rate band, currently £325,000. Additional reliefs including the residence nil-rate band, Business Property Relief, Agricultural Property Relief and the use of trusts can significantly reduce the taxable value of your estate. BC&A will assess your full position and quantify your current exposure before recommending any planning steps.

Can estate planning help if I own a business or farm?

Yes, and it is especially important in these cases. Business Property Relief can reduce or eliminate IHT on qualifying business assets, but it must be properly structured and evidenced. For farming families, Agricultural Property Relief operates similarly. BC&A has specific experience advising business owners and farming estates on preserving assets for the next generation without a disproportionate tax cost.

Why choose BC&A for Estate & Trust Planning

We do more than keep your books in order. Our approach is proactive — we review your numbers regularly, flag opportunities and ensure you are always ahead of deadlines.