What is estate planning?

Estate planning is the process of arranging for the management and distribution of your assets after your death, ensuring your wishes are followed and your loved ones are provided for.

Why is estate planning important?

Estate planning helps minimize taxes, avoid probate delays, and ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes, providing peace of mind for you and your family.

What does estate planning involve?

Estate planning involves creating a will, setting up trusts, assigning powers of attorney, and considering inheritance tax strategies to protect your assets and beneficiaries.

Who should consider estate planning?

Anyone who owns property, has savings, or wants to ensure their family is cared for after their death should consider estate planning.

How can Joslin Rhodes help with estate planning?

Joslin Rhodes provides expert estate planning services, helping you create a comprehensive plan to manage your assets, minimise taxes, and secure your family’s future.

Estate Planning Services

Estate Planning, or ‘Protect’ as we call it, is more than just having a will—it’s about safeguarding your assets and making sure that your loved ones are taken care of after you’re gone.

Whether you’re looking to draft a will, set up a trust or Lasting Power of Attorney, reduce inheritance tax, or safeguard your estate from Care Fees, our expert Estate Planning team is here to help.

We’ll aim to take all the confusing legal jargon and put it in simple easy to understand language, while also busting some of those common myths people have – like signing the house to the kids won’t prevent it from being taken in care fees.

You simply tell us what you want to protect and we’ll make sure what you leave behind goes to the people you want and not someone else you haven’t considered, namely the taxman!

Ready to protect your legacy?

Speak with us today to arrange your no-cost meeting (worth £500) with one of our local pension & retirement planning experts.

Book Your No-Cost Meeting

Here’s Where Joslin Rhodes Can Help

Don’t just take our word for it…

Read what some of our clients have to say about us…

We can get on and enjoy our retirement.

We were unsure how to manage both our savings and pensions. We went along to see the team at Joslin Rhodes and had several discussions about options open to us. We have now both investments and pensions being managed by Joslin Rhodes.

Connie Hall

Every step has been explained very well.

Really pleased how my Pensions have been handled with Joslin Rhodes. Every step has been explained very well so we could understand the process. Looking forward to the next stage being completed, also the hospitality we have received at our meetings has been excellent.

Stephen Coates

Very professional warm and friendly team.

Joslin Rhodes have taken the strain off us having to worry about money now that we have retired. They keep us informed and advised at every stage. It's a bit like having a friend who you can trust to look after your financial health while you are free to go about enjoying the rest of your life.

Karen Hammond

Nothing is too much trouble.

We called into Joslin Rhodes after a recommendation from colleagues. We went through a number of sessions talking and reviewing our situation with the view for early retirement. We were fully supported and given reassuring advice in deciding to retire early and are now very happy in our retirement. We would not hesitate to recommend Joslin Rhodes.

Rita Johnson

Their professionalism and knowledge certainly gives us confidence.

Friendly and welcoming staff, comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. It’s a very daunting and important decision when deciding on investments, particularly with pensions but their professionalism and knowledge certainly gives us confidence for a long and happy future.

Dave Redwick

My experience with Joslin Rhodes has been excellent.

As someone who really didn't understand pensions and was concerned for the future, I can say my experience with Joslin Rhodes has been excellent. Everyone I have met have been very professional but also friendly making you feel completely at ease. I cannot praise them highly enough for making this a pain free journey. A very big thank you.

Amanda Kelly

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Commonly Asked Questions About Estate Planning

1. What Happens If I Don’t Have a Will?

If you die without a will (known as dying intestate), UK law will decide how your assets are distributed. This could mean that your estate may not go to the people or causes you care about most. Having a valid will in place ensures that your assets are distributed according to your wishes, helping to avoid family disputes and reducing the legal process’s complexity.

2. How Can I Reduce Inheritance Tax in the UK?

Inheritance Tax (IHT) is currently charged at 40% on estates over £325,000 (or £500,000 if passing a home to direct descendants). However, there are several legal ways to reduce IHT, such as setting up trusts, gifting assets, and making charitable donations. Our Estate Planning services can help you explore these options, ensuring that as much of your estate as possible goes to your loved ones rather than to taxes.

3. What Is a Trust and How Does It Work in Estate Planning?

A trust is a legal arrangement where you (the “settlor”) transfer assets to trustees, who manage them for the benefit of your chosen beneficiaries. Trusts can be an effective tool in Estate Planning to protect assets, reduce inheritance tax, and control how and when your beneficiaries receive their inheritance. There are also several different types of trusts, including Property Trusts, Pension Trusts, and Savings Trusts. We can help you set up a trust that aligns with your goals and ensures your assets are managed according to your wishes.

4. When Should I Start Estate Planning?

It’s never too early to start estate planning. Life is unpredictable, and having a plan in place gives you control over your assets, provides for your loved ones, and ensures your wishes are respected in the event of illness or death. Regularly reviewing and updating your estate plan, especially after major life events like marriage, having children, or acquiring significant assets, is equally important.

5. How Long Does a Lasting Power of Attorney Last?

6. How to claim Power of Attorney?

7. What can I expect from meeting with Joslin Rhodes?

At your first meeting, held at our Planning Rooms location of Preston Farm, Stockton-on-Tees, you’ll meet a member of our Protect team.

They will listen to your concerns and chat about what estate plans you may already have in place, before talking through your options to plug any gaps.

We’ll also look at things like, what you want to happen to your estate when you’re gone and help solve any potential issues.

There’s always something happening here…

Looking for practical, face-to-face help to tackle life’s money matters? Then join us at these no-cost workshops.

Whether it’s pension puzzles, care fee planning chaos, or sleepless nights from financial worries, we’re here to help.

See our upcoming events

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When you can afford to retire
How much money you'll need in retirement
How to make the most of your pensions and other assets to fund your lifestyle