Wills, Probate & Estate Planning

What we do?

Our firm has many years’ experience in the drafting of Wills and Trusts. We at Alastair Purdy & Co recognise the importance of advance planning and careful crafting of Wills and Trusts so as avoid legal and tax problems in later years. As such, we provide a full range of services in respect of Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning, Capital Taxes, Probate and Administration of Estates and related Litigation including advising and/or giving independent legal advice to spouses, civil partners and co-habitants.

Why make a will?

At Alastair Purdy & Company we make the process of making a Will hassle free and can even call to your home, if you are unable and feel uncomfortable about calling into the office to discuss making a Will with our team.   By making a Will you decide how your assets are shared out on your death.    Whilst nobody relishes the thought of doing a Will by doing one ensure that your wishes are carried out upon your death.    If you are not married you can provide properly for your partner as under inheritance law they will have no automatic right to a share of your estate. A Will allows you to engage in proper estate planning which can minimise the amount of Inheritance Tax (Capital Acquisition Tax) your beneficiaries pay.

Capital Acquisitions Tax

If you receive an inheritance following a death, it may be liable to Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT).   There are three categories of threshold listed below A, B and C. Currently the tax payable after a person inherits over the threshold is 33%  The table below sets out the CAT Threshold after the 9th October 2019. 

Group A

The Group A threshold applies where you, the beneficiary, on the date of the gift or inheritance are:

• a child of the:
  • disponer
  • disponer’s spouse or civil partner (commonly known as a stepchild)
• a minor child, under 18 years of age, of a deceased child of the:
  • disponer (commonly known as a grandchild)
  • disponer’s spouse or civil partner (commonly known as a step-grandchild)
• a minor child of the spouse or civil partner of a deceased child of the:
  • disponer
  • disponer’s spouse or civil partner
• a parent of the disponer and you take an absolute interest (that is, not a limited interest) of the inheritance on the death of your child.

Group B

The Group B threshold applies where you, the beneficiary, on the date of the gift or inheritance are:

• a parent of the disponer, where you take a gift or a limited interest
• a brother or sister of the disponer
• a child of a brother or sister of the disponer (Favourite Nephew or Niece Relief may apply)
• a child of the civil partner of a brother or sister of the disponer
• a grandparent of the disponer
• a grandchild of the disponer
• a lineal ancestor or a lineal descendant of the disponer.

Group C

The Group C threshold applies where you, the beneficiary, on the date of the gift or inheritance have a relationship to the disponer not already covered in Groups A or B.

As with all estate planning there are other tax relieves available such as dwelling house relief, agricultural relief, business relief, favourite nephew/niece relief.    

For further information, please do not hesitate to contact us