keep it in the family — for every generation.
A trust in your will lets you decide not just who inherits, but how — so what you leave is protected from remarriage, a child's divorce, or debts, and reaches your grandchildren as you intended.
protected, not just passed on.
the trusts I use most
life interest trust
Your partner can live in the home (or have the income) for life. Your share then goes to your children. This is how I prevent sideways disinheritance.
discretionary trust
Your trustees decide who gets what, and when, from a group you choose — say your children and grandchildren. Useful if a child is going through a divorce, has debts, or isn't good with money.
trusts for young or vulnerable people
Money held until grandchildren are old enough, or managed for someone who couldn't handle it themselves, usually without affecting the means-tested benefits they rely on.
what if my child divorces?
If you leave money to your son or daughter outright and their marriage breaks down, it can end up in the divorce settlement. Left in a discretionary trust instead, it's much harder to reach — and it can still be used for your child and grandchildren.
what a trust won't do
I'll be straight with you: a trust in your will isn't a way to dodge care fees, and it isn't a tax scheme. It's a way to make sure the people you choose are the people who benefit. If someone's promising more, ask them to put it in writing.
questions
is a trust only for rich people?
No. Most of the trusts I write are for ordinary families whose main asset is the house. They're about who ends up with it, not about being wealthy.
do trusts avoid care fees?
Don't rely on it. There are rules against giving things away to avoid care fees, and anyone who promises a trust will protect your home from them is overselling. A trust in your will protects your share for your family after you've gone — that's what it's for.
are there tax consequences?
Some trusts have tax rules of their own. For most families using a trust in their will, it's straightforward — but if your estate needs specialist tax advice, I'll tell you rather than guess.
who runs the trust?
Trustees — people you choose, often the same as your executors. I'll explain what the job involves so you can pick the right people.