Wills, Trusts & Estates · Tax Planning
Part of our wider Wills, Trusts & Estates services
Inheritance Tax Planning Solicitors
Inheritance tax planning, lifetime gifting strategies, and structuring your estate to minimise tax exposure — all explained clearly before any decisions are made.
Chester-based, acting across Cheshire, North Wales and throughout England and Wales. The rules around inheritance tax are complex and change regularly — we advise on the options available to you.
No obligation — talk through your options first. Costs explained clearly.
Inheritance tax planning strategies
Inheritance tax is charged at 40% on the value of your estate above the nil rate band threshold. With careful planning, it is often possible to reduce or eliminate this liability — but the strategies available depend on your circumstances and must be implemented correctly.
Nil rate band planning
Making full use of the nil rate band (currently £325,000) and the residence nil rate band (up to £175,000) — including transferable allowances between spouses and civil partners.
Lifetime gifting
Structured lifetime gifts can reduce the value of your estate for IHT purposes. We advise on the annual exemptions, potentially exempt transfers, and the seven-year rule.
Trust-based planning
Discretionary trusts and other trust structures can be used to remove assets from your estate while retaining some control over how they are used. We advise on the tax implications of each structure.
Business and agricultural reliefs
Business Property Relief and Agricultural Property Relief can significantly reduce IHT on qualifying assets. We advise on eligibility and how to structure your estate to maximise these reliefs.
Our approach to tax planning
Estate review
We review the value and composition of your estate — including property, investments, business interests, and existing gifts — to assess your current IHT exposure.
Options and implications
We explain the planning strategies available to you and the implications of each — including the impact on your own financial security and flexibility during your lifetime.
Will and trust structuring
We advise on how your will and any trust arrangements should be structured to implement your tax planning strategy — and draft the necessary documents.
Ongoing review
Tax rules change. We advise on reviewing your estate plan regularly — particularly following changes in your circumstances, the law, or HMRC guidance.
Current IHT thresholds (2024/25)
Nil rate band
£325,000
Per individual
Residence nil rate band
£175,000
On qualifying residential property
IHT rate
40%
On value above threshold
Thresholds are subject to change. Married couples and civil partners can transfer unused allowances. Speak to a solicitor for advice on your specific circumstances.
Related Wills & Estates Services
Thinking about inheritance tax planning?
Speak to a tax planning solicitor today. We explain every option clearly — costs confirmed in writing before any work begins.
No obligation — talk through your options first. Chester, Cheshire & North Wales.
Free Confidential Enquiry
Request a Callback
Complete the form below and our wills & estates team will be in touch. No obligation — strictly confidential.
Our Team
Speak to a Member of Our Team
Darren Steele
Senior Private Client Executive · STEP Member
Darren has worked in the legal sector since 1998 and has been a STEP member since 2011. He specialises in wills, trusts, lasting powers of attorney and probate — with particular expertise in inheritance tax planning and complex estate structuring.
Laura Kirton
Wills & Probate Solicitor · 10 Years Qualified
Laura is a qualified solicitor with ten years' post-qualification experience, specialising in wills, probate, and lasting powers of attorney. Known for her calm, methodical approach, she brings both legal expertise and genuine insight to every matter — particularly in emotionally complex family situations.
David Stahler
Wills, Trusts & Estates Executive
David is our first point of contact for clients enquiring about estate planning and inheritance tax. He brings a warm, personable approach to what can be a sensitive subject — and clients consistently remark on how at ease he makes them feel. Discreet and thorough.
Nikolina Vukovic
Legal Executive — Wills, Trusts & Estates
Nikolina specialises in probate, wills, trusts and estate administration. She supports clients through what is often one of the most difficult periods of their lives — from straightforward administrations to complex estates involving property, inheritance tax and sensitive family circumstances.
Get Started
Speak to a Tax Planning Solicitor
No obligation · Fixed fees confirmed upfront · Serving Chester, Cheshire & North Wales
Prefer to speak with us? Call 01244 757352