Why succession planning matters
Without a clear plan, your estate could face unnecessary tax bills, legal disputes, or delays. Worse still, it could put strain on family relationships at an already difficult time.
We help you take control - so your legacy is passed on smoothly, and your wishes are respected.
What we can help you with
Succession planning often includes:
- Wills and Powers of Attorney
- Lifetime gifting strategies
- Creating Trusts to protect assets
- Bringing family into the business
- Working with your accountants and financial advisers
- Planning for farms or family businesses
- Planning for heritage assets, including Heritage Relief, Conditional Exemption arrangements and Gifts in Lieu of inheritance tax
We also collaborate with our in-house corporate and property teams to ensure your plans are practical, robust, and future-proof.
Tax planning that works for you
Tax is a key part of succession planning. Poor planning, or no planning, can significantly increase the tax burden on your estate. We’ll help you:
- Understand and maximise inheritance tax allowances
- Explore transferable allowances from previous spouses (including complex remarriage scenarios)
- Secure the residence nil rate band - which isn’t applied automatically
- Make the most of Business Relief, Agricultural Property Relief and Heritage Relief for qualifying businesses, farms and heritage assets
- Use Trusts and gifting to reduce inheritance tax exposure
We’ll also help you avoid common pitfalls, such as triggering lifetime inheritance tax or capital gains tax charges through poorly structured gifts.
Protecting vulnerable Beneficiaries
Sometimes, leaving assets outright isn’t the right choice. If a Beneficiary has a disability, lacks capacity, or is at risk of financial exploitation, we can help you put the right structures in place to protect them - without compromising your estate plan.
Post-death planning
Even after someone has passed away, there may still be opportunities to reduce inheritance tax or protect assets, if action is taken quickly. Our team can advise Beneficiaries on their options and help secure long-term benefits for their families.
Plan with confidence
You’ve worked hard to build your wealth. We’ll help you protect it and pass it on in the right way. Our team will create a strategy that reflects your values, supports your loved ones, and gives you confidence in the future.
Why Choose Porter Dodson?
- Recognised excellence – Ranked in both The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners for our expertise in private client services, including Wills, Trusts, and Probate.
- Clear, compassionate advice – We speak your language, not legal jargon, and tailor our guidance to your personal circumstances.
- Joined-up legal support – Our team works seamlessly across estate planning, tax, property, and disputes to protect your interests.
- Trusted by generations – With deep roots in the community, we’ve supported families and business owners across the South West for decades.
We’re here to make sure your wishes are respected, whatever the future brings.
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