The Services
Tax and Estate Planning
We deal with a broad range of clients from UK resident and domiciled individuals to high net worth non-domiciled family groups including small and large charitable projects. We try to ensure that the choices made and the structures adopted throughout maximise tax efficiency and use tax mitigation opportunities.We advise on the impact of Inheritance and Capital Gains Taxes and on the best vehicles for passing assets onto future generations.
For more information on our general tax services which also deals with corporate entities please ask for a copy of the Taxation Group brochure.
Commercial Ventures
It is often the case that private clients use or are advised to use commercial and corporate vehicles to achieve their various objectives. These are normally used in the context of family and owner managed businesses and can take the form of either partnerships or companies. We draw on the expertise of our Corporate & Commercial Department in order to best advise private clients in achieving objectives which can range from the tax efficient disposals of businesses to their reconstruction, acquisition and planning for succession.Wills and Powers of Attorney
At Druces we recognise the importance of a carefully drafted Will and the opportunities this may provide for the private client both as a method of tax planning and to ensure that the client's wishes are fully and effectively implemented.Hand in hand with Wills go Enduring Powers of Attorney, their registration where necessary and liaison with the Court of Protection on capacity issues. We also prepare Advance Medical Directives (Living Wills) for those clients who are concerned about prolonged and costly medical procedures.
Trusts and Charities
Trusts continue to be useful tools for the defence and tax efficient deployment of private capital and are also often used in connection with the client’s commercial ventures and objectives.Quite apart from the full trust administration service which we offer as a matter of course, we regularly advise our clients in connection with the formation, variation and the break up of trusts.
Not only are we involved with advising well known large national charities on a day to day basis we bring this experience to bear in the formation and administration of private charities regardless of size.
Probate and Administration of Estates
In the administration of estates of a deceased individual, our aim is to guide the Executors and Beneficiaries through the often difficult process of putting the deceased’s intentions into practice in a timely and cost effective manner. We regularly deal with the intestacy problems and where necessary and advisable the post death reorganisation of an estate whether it is domestic or where it owns assets both in this country and abroad. We offer a comprehensive inheritance tax advisory service drawing on our wide experience in dealing with the HMRC and more particularly the Capital Taxes Office.Property, Employment and Immigration
The buying, selling and development of residential commercial and agricultural property are services which are at times required by our private clients. Also included under this category is employment advice and, within the international context, immigration. We draw on the expertise of other departments within the firm to service these particular requirements under the supervision and co-ordination of the principal with overall responsibility for the client.The International Element
Druces is a member of the Alliance of Business Lawyers, an international network of independent law firms. This provides us with access to the expertise of firms principally throughout Europe and other main commercial centres worldwide.We also assist clients and lawyers in many other jurisdictions who require advice on UK tax or inheritance laws. We have good relationships with reputable trust companies and fiduciaries in offshore centres and other low tax jurisdictions.
We have the services of an in-house Notary Public who can assist in the authorisation of documents required for use in foreign jurisdictions.