Later life planning
Start planning now to give you and your family a better future. Our specialist legal and financial advisers cover: pensions and investment advice, equity release, powers of attorney, making a will, care fees planning and gifting money to children.
Later life planning services
At Tees our lawyers and independent financial advisers work together. This gives you a joined-up view of your plans for your future and you can get everything organised in one go.
Our later life planning specialists work across the full range of services:
- Lasting Powers of Attorney – choosing someone you trust to act in your best interests to make decisions on your behalf if you're no longer able to make decisions for yourself – about your health or your money.
- Making a Will – or update a current one. This is key to making sure your wishes are carried out after your death. The complexity and quirks of the tax legislation offer many opportunities to save Inheritance Tax through appropriate planning and your Will is an important element of your plans. The question of how to structure your Will is a complex one involving consideration of a range of different factors. Married couples with significant assets should consider the option of using an appropriate Will trust on the first death, due to the tax planning opportunities available.
- Court of protection and deputyships – a complex process of legal steps to protect vulnerable people. A deputy makes decisions on a person’s behalf. Many of our solicitors have themselves been appointed professional deputies and understand what it means to be responsible for people who can’t make their own decisions.
- Financial and succession planning - inheritance tax planning, business property or agricultural property relief and trust administration, including investment advice. We work with your other professional advisers, such as accountants for a joined up plan.
- Pension advice - tax-free lump sums, retiring early and the different types of pensions - personal, stakeholder, SIPP (self-invested personal pensions), workplace, additional voluntary contributions (AVCs) – and pension transfers.
- Independent investment advice – advising on your investment strategy to support you and your family in later life.
- Equity release – advising you on the right financial product for you to obtain funds from the capital value of property.
- Long-term care fees planning – our independent financial advisers are accredited by Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA) and understand all aspects of funding care for older people or those with health needs.
- Gifting money to children – advice on how to giving regular payments to children and others.
Call our specialist solicitors on 0808 231 1320
We’re here to help
Call us for a free, confidential, no obligation chat, or fill out our enquiry form and we will let you know how we can help. We can also visit you at your home if you wish.
Our specialist lawyers are based in:
- Cambridgeshire: Cambridge
- Essex: Brentwood, Chelmsford, and Saffron Walden
- Hertfordshire: Bishop's Stortford and Royston
But we can help you wherever you are in England and Wales.
Talk to an expert
-
Sarah Walker
Executive Partner, Wills, Trusts, Tax and Probate
Bishop's Stortford office
Meet Sarah -
Cathy Izzard
Consultant, Wills, Trusts, Tax and Probate
Bishop's Stortford office
Meet Cathy -
James Appleby
Managing Director at Tees Wealth
Bishop's Stortford office
Meet James -
Toni Chalmers-Smith
Wealth Specialist, Wealth Management
Bishop's Stortford office
Meet Toni
What our clients say
Legal 500 UK 2025
Essex
Tees has a broad range of specialists who are available face to face, virtually or by email.
Legal 500 UK 2023
Essex
This is a one-stop shop for all issues relating to wills, probate, tax.
Legal 500 UK 2025
Essex
I can honestly say that I have complete confidence when referring clients or friends. I know they'll be dealt with in a professional and friendly manner whether it be the solicitor or support staff.
Legal 500 UK 2025
Essex
The practice offers an excellent personal service, and they respond quickly to any requests or questions. They have been so helpful in explaining the legal side of probate.
Legal 500 UK 2025
Beds, Bucks, Herts
My wife and I have been dealing with the Will writing team and at all times have been kept posted on progress and all my questions have been answered quickly and been easy to understand.
Legal 500 UK 2025
Beds, Bucks, Herts
I have recently been involved in a long and protracted probate involving the estate of my sister. Throughout this three year period I have received help and support of a high order.
Legal 500 UK 2025
Beds, Bucks, Herts
Tees have consistently delivered prompt advice. They demonstrate empathy in difficult situations and help client navigate towards solutions. Tees work as a team and are able to services of relevant colleagues as and when needed.
Legal 500 UK 2025
Beds, Bucks, Herts
This practice has always had a good reputation in Bishop's Stortford and I have been dealing with them for many years now. I have had excellent advice and help from everyone I have dealt with at the offices in Bishop's Stortford.
Legal 500 UK 2025
East Anglia - Cambridge
I've never found an area where Tees have been unable to help. There is, therefore, considerable strength across the organisation. I wouldn't currently go elsewhere as I suspect that Tees can address most of my needs. The individuals also have good contacts outside of the practice. The people are all very helpful, billing is reasonable and clearly outlined ahead of time. I have always found Tees accessible and helpful.
Legal 500 UK 2025
East Anglia - Cambridge
The service we have received has been everything we hoped for and required for probate.
Legal 500 UK 2024
'The team at Tees are consummately professional, and yet provides a service which feels warm, friendly and personal. All considerations are covered and delivered in an understandable yet thorough manner'
Legal 500 UK 2024
'Tees have been our family’s solicitors for over 25 years. Always setting an exemplary standard, Tees are a well-established, friendly and professional firm that deals with you in a personal manner. You feel confident in their ability to provide sound advice to suit your specific circumstances. I would have no hesitation in recommending Tees'
Legal 500 UK 2024
'Sarah Walker is exceptional in helping us with wills in France and the UK. She listens brilliantly, responds appropriately, and gives clear and simple principles to work to'
Legal 500 UK 2023
'Attention to detail, broad ranging approach to inheritance/LPA advice covering more than just the basic subject. John Southan has a very good grasp of the topics covered and an easy manner of presentation'
Frequently asked questions
The benefits of having a properly written will include:
- You choose who inherits from your estate
- You can choose someone to trust to administer your estate
- Your family know what your wishes are
- Gives the opportunity for estate and inheritance tax planning and management
- Makes appropriate provisions for minors or dependents
- Assists your estate in the event that the will is contested.
Yes, it is possible to write your own will (sometimes called a ‘DIY will’) however it is not advisable that you do so. Wills are complex legal documents, and in order for a will to be considered valid after you die, it must comply with strict rules.
You might have grounds to object to the registration of a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) if:
- you can prove the LPA isn’t legally valid
- the person who made the LPA (the ‘donor’) didn’t have mental capacity
- there was forgery or fraud in creation of the LPA
- the attorney is bankrupt
- the attorney isn’t acting in the donor’s best interests.
Lifetime gifts are assets you give away before you die. Examples of lifetime gifts include:
- money
- investments
- artwork
- cars
- jewellery
- shares in a business
- payments to a life assurance policy that is not for your benefit or does not pay out to your estate
If you survive the gift by seven years or more, then it is not normally subject to inheritance tax when you die. It is important that you do not retain any benefit of the gift, or inheritance tax will be due. Gifts that you make within seven years of your death may be subject to inheritance tax. Transfers into Trusts are also subject to the seven year rule, however the inheritance tax position is more complex and legal advice should be obtained.
