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People value different things in a professional relationship; it may be about investing that extra time to understand your issues or about how to reduce your personal risk. What makes the difference for you?
Always about you. On your side so you can be confident about life's big decisions.
Different life stages present different challenges - from buying your first home, starting a career, building wealth, to planning for the future. And all along the route there's a chance of unexpected events such as health issues or injury. And throughout life's journey there are relationships to be handled. At Withy King we're here with you every step of the way...
Clicking on sections of the diagram will reveal information about each lifecycle stage.
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My relationships
Protecting those you care about
Our relationships are precious to us and worth protecting. They come in many forms – our life partners, spouses, children, parents, relatives and friends. They change in their importance at different stages in our life and they can all bring a special meaning to our lives. It’s not surprising that people often value their relationships above other things in life.
New relationships are exciting and full of promise, but you still need to protect your interests, in case things don’t go as you planned. A co-habitation, pre-nuptial or civil partnership agreement can safeguard your interests and prevent a dispute should your relationship fail.
Many marriages are under pressure these days and more than a third sadly end in divorce or separation. Children are often affected the most and empathetic advice can help support parents who may be in dispute over custody, where their children should live, or how they should be brought up.
At some point in our lives, we have to decide how we will pass on what we possess to those we care about, whether it is to our children, family or friends. Careful estate planning during your lifetime can ensure your wishes are fulfilled. Effective tax planning can bring added benefits and reduce your tax burden.
As the population lives longer, many of us are faced with issues relating to problems of the elderly, particularly where they affect mental capacity. Our Elderly and Incapacity team support people dealing with these difficult issues, including Court of Protection advice.
Whatever relationship stage you have reached, we will take the time to understand your personal needs and tailor advice to protect you and those closest to you.
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My future
Planning for the future
Most of us have many conflicting demands on our time- children and family, personal relationships and friends, challenging jobs, and when time permits, our leisure interests. Life doesn’t necessarily slow down on retirement either, as you pursue your retirement plans. It’s hardly surprising that planning for the future isn’t always a priority. Something always requires your immediate attention and there’s always tomorrow, isn’t there?
You’ve worked hard for what you’ve achieved in life and it’s vital to protect it for those closest to you, but if you don’t have a Will; it may all be at risk. It’s easy to assume that only people with ‘wealth’ need a Will or estate planning, but if you are living together, you need a Will just as much as the ‘established’ family with children. More complex circumstances may benefit from additional security through the creation of a well structured and tax efficient trust. Careful tax planning advice can help ensure you don’t pay too much tax.
What if you were expecting an inheritance which didn’t materialise? Our Inheritance and Trust dispute team helps beneficiaries challenge the terms of Wills where they may have been disinherited unfairly.
As our life expectancy increases, it’s a sad reality that we might suffer from reduced mental capacity. Careful planning through a Lasting Power of Attorney can ensure your personal affairs are managed if you are no longer able to. Our Court of Protection team can also help with the appointment of a Deputy where no Power of Attorney exists.
Rest assured that whatever your circumstances or stage of life, we will take an integrated approach to provide you with the best solutions to protect your future interests and wishes.
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My home
Protecting your valuable asset
Your home can represent so much that is central to your life; a welcome and secure refuge, a focal point for a new relationship, a place to raise your growing family, and a comfortable haven in retirement. It’s likely to be one of your biggest life investments and a valuable asset. You’ll want to be confident that it’s protected, whether it’s for yourself, a child or as a ‘buy-to-let’ property investment.
The tough economic climate and stringent lending conditions have made it difficult for first time buyers, putting more pressure on parents to fund that first step onto the property ladder, often when they may be planning for future retirement. As we live longer, the planned inheritance of the family home may need to be sacrificed to fund the care arrangements for elderly parents. Relationships are under more pressure and many people face changing home after a relationship breakdown.
It’s a complex pattern of lifecycle needs that requires a comprehensive range of legal advice on all areas of home ownership. You would expect us to provide a residential property service that offers a highly competitive personal service, but we go beyond that to make sure your investment is protected for the future. Our Residential Property, Farms and Estates team work closely with our Estate Planning and Tax and Trusts team to make sure that your property investments attract the best tax breaks and that your property is secured for future generations. Should an unexpected problem arise about your property, our Property Disputes team can help you find a quick and effective solution.
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My health
Helping you to get your life back
We all hope and plan for the best in life, for ourselves and for our families. Good health is such an essential part of enjoying life. Sadly, your life plans can be changed forever if you or a family member has suffered an injury due to an accident or through medical negligence.
Understandably, you will be anxious about how you and your family will cope on a daily basis with these life changing events. Will you be able to manage financially if one or more incomes are lost? Are you entitled to claim benefits? What treatments and therapies are available and how long will they be needed? Will you still be able to live independently or will you need long-term care? Will you need to move home or adapt it to meet your new needs? If you have an injured child who can’t cope as an adult, you will naturally be concerned about how to best care and protect them when you’re no longer here. They’re all vital questions and making the right decisions can add to your burden and stress.Our focus is how we will help you achieve the best life possible after an injury. Our Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence teams will not only help secure the compensation you need now, they will also ensure that your future needs are fully anticipated and safeguarded. We pride ourselves on taking a personal interest in each of our client’s lives and we often enjoy long-term relationships with their families. We act as Professional Trustees and Deputies to protect the life-long interests of injured individuals, so that you can be confident that they will be cared for when you’re no longer here.
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My wealth
Protecting what you value
We all have to work hard for what we’ve achieved in life and it’s only natural that you’ll want to protect it. Your wealth is likely to come in many forms and can alter as your lifecycle changes; it may include your home and other property interests, financial assets and even your business interests, such as a farming partnership. Whatever form it takes, you’ll want to maximise the value of your wealth and minimise any future risk so that you can enjoy it during your lifetime or pass it on for the benefit of future generations. That means protecting it throughout your lifetime by using the most tax efficient structures and through careful estate planning.
Life changing events, such as the start or end of a relationship or marriage, the arrival of children or the prospect of retirement, all bring changes to your personal circumstances that may impact on your wealth and tax position. Career changes such as overseas placements can be exciting opportunities, but may put you at risk of paying unnecessary tax.
We take an integrated approach to protecting your wealth throughout your lifetime. We can offer you comprehensive advice on all aspects of lifetime estate planning, efficient tax planning and the creation and management of trusts, including offshore structures. We have particular expertise in advising non-domiciled UK residents on the most beneficial way to limit their UK tax exposure. Our Elderly and Incapacity team can advise on the benefits of Lasting Powers of Attorney as a means of protecting wealth when mental capacity is diminished.
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My family
Safeguarding those close to you
Your personal relationships are a fundamental part of your life; few things are more life changing. They can be the source of great excitement and personal satisfaction. If you are a couple embarking on a new relationship or committing to marriage, you naturally hope for only the best in your new life together. But even the most promising relationships can go wrong, and if it does, your family life can be turned upside down.
Modern life can present many challenges to couples, whether you are married or are living together. Relationships sometimes come under great pressure and your personal expectations may change over time, eventually resulting in the breakdown of the relationship. Separation or divorce may be more straightforward these days, but it is no less life changing for everyone involved, particularly if you have children. You will want to know that your future and that of your family is safeguarded and financially secure, whatever your personal circumstances.
Our Family team are experienced at guiding couples through the various stages of their changing relationship needs, from co-habitation and pre-nuptial agreements to divorce and separation advice. Our focus is to achieve a fair financial settlement that protects your interests and provides for your family’s future. We encourage couples to adopt a child-focused approach to settling their relationship differences and our Family team includes recognised child law specialists. We aim to avoid Court proceedings where possible and will discuss the benefits of family mediation and collaborative law as a means of achieving a settlement.
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