Case Studies

All round assistance

Our client was widowed in November 2006. Her late husband had previously dealt with all their financial and legal affairs (including both their tax returns, Wills etc) and she felt totally overwhelmed with the resulting correspondence from HM Revenue & Customs the solicitor and investment companies.

Our Team identified a number of areas needed which needed addressing:

• Her Will did not reflect the current situation or her wishes.
• The tax affairs of her late husband’s estate needed to be finalised.
• She had inherited sole ownership of a wide range of investments that were previously held in joint names which the solicitor began mistakenly encashing during the probate process.
• Her own tax and finanical affairs required our ongoing assistance.

After explaining the position:

• We drafted an up-to-date Will.
• Our Tax Department settled the tax affairs of the estate and now take care of her personal tax affairs going forwards.
• Our financial adviser stopped the Solicitor from encashing well performing investments that needed to remain in her portfolio. In addition, a regular review process was agreed to ensure that the investments continue to meet her needs and objectives.

This case highlights John Kerr’s view that our team can be of assistance with all aspects of financial and tax planning, not simply looking at a task in isolation.