Trusts
Guide for Trustees in Teesside
Trusts can be an effective way of managing and protecting assets, planning for the future and providing for family members or other beneficiaries. However, trusts can also be complex, with important legal, tax and administrative responsibilities to consider.
Clive Barwell provides professional trust advice to individuals, families and trustees across Teesside and beyond. As a Registered Trust & Estate Practitioner with extensive experience in later-life financial and estate planning, Clive can help you understand whether a trust is appropriate for your circumstances and how it could fit into your wider plans.
How Can Trust Advice Help?
A trust can be used for a number of different purposes, depending on your circumstances and objectives.
Clive can provide advice relating to:
- Setting up new trusts
- Existing trusts
- Trust administration
- Trust registration
- Trust investments
- Trustee responsibilities
- Estate planning
- Providing for vulnerable beneficiaries
- Reviewing existing trust arrangements
The right approach will depend on your individual circumstances, the assets involved and what you are trying to achieve.
Trusts and Estate Planning
Trust planning often forms part of a wider estate planning strategy.
Depending on your circumstances, a trust may be considered alongside your Will, Inheritance Tax planning, lifetime gifting, pensions and other financial arrangements.
Looking at these areas together can help avoid making decisions in isolation and provide a clearer picture of how your assets could be managed and passed on in the future.
Clive specialises in later-life legal and financial planning, including Wills, Trusts, Inheritance Tax, Probate, Lasting Powers of Attorney and financial planning.
Download the Trusts Guide
My downloadable guide provides an accessible introduction to the complex world of trusts and trusteeship within England and Wales. It outlines the historical context, legal framework, and practical considerations for establishing and managing trusts.
Trusts are versatile legal arrangements used for wealth protection, tax planning, estate management, and safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries. The guide explains the three main types of trusts—Bare Trusts, Interest in Possession Trusts, and Discretionary Trusts—highlighting their key features, benefits, and tax implications.
It emphasises the importance of selecting suitable trustees, understanding their fiduciary duties, and complying with the Trustee Act 2000. Trustees must act prudently, maintain accurate records, and seek professional advice, particularly regarding investment decisions. The guide details investment principles such as diversification, suitability, and ongoing review, stressing the need for due diligence when appointing advisers.
Practical advice is provided on when trusts are appropriate, common pitfalls to avoid (such as so-called “Asset Protection Trusts”), and the risks of litigation for trustees.
Overall, this guide serves as a comprehensive resource for individuals considering trusts as part of their estate planning strategy, while underscoring the necessity of tailored legal and tax advice, which I can provide.
Download the Trusts guide
Contact Me
Your initial consultation is at your convenience, at my expense, and without obligation. Consultations will generally be conducted online via Microsoft Teams or Zoom. After a preliminary conversation, if you live in or near Teesside, I can provide an at-home service if you prefer.