During 2006/2007 four heroic members of McKnights team Hugh Forsyth (McKnightWyvern), Ann Plumb, Andrew Smith & Kevin Smith, abseiled down the side of Debenham’s raising £1,500; raffles, a balloon release, together with  generous donations enabled us to support Noah’s Ark Trust and present them recently with a cheque £4,500. We secured a further donation of £2,500 from Bank of Scotland making a grand total of £7,000. £750 was also raised for  Acorns Childrens Hospice.

Noah’s Ark Trust provides support to bereaved children in Hereford and Worcestershire  through grief support progammes and residential family weekends at Malvern Hills Outdoor Centre. During the last 10 years they have supported more than 1500 children following the loss of a significant member of their family.

 
Photograph: Worcester Evening News

The untimely death of a parent is devastating for the family, and can only be made worse if your financial affairs are not in order.  IHT planning is not just about tax, the starting point is to consider your own family situation and how your estate would be distributed and managed on your death.  There is no universal right answer.  What is best for you will depend on your financial position and that of your potential heirs, and also what might happen during your lifetime.

Despite the changes in March 2006 that ended the favourable tax treatment of some types of trust, a trust is still a useful tool for ensuring the required succession and can help protect assets against unforeseen risks.  Making a will, reviewing it on a regular basis and considering life assurance should also be part of your estate planning.  Circumstances change, as do tax rules.  We can help you to formulate your wishes and make sure that your estate planning will achieve them in the most tax efficient way.  Estate planning remains as essential as ever despite last year’s announcement that a surviving spouse or civil partner can inherit their deceased spouse’s or partner’s nil rate band. 
 Please contact John Elliott, our Tax Director, if you would like to discuss your personal circumstances. 
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