Types of trust
"Trusts come in many shapes and sizes - from straightforward nominee arrangements to complex multigenerational family structures. Whether you’re protecting family wealth, planning for succession, or managing UK/non-UK assets, we’ll help you understand the right structure for your goals."
Sonia Munder, Tax Director
Here’s a breakdown of the most common trust types and how they’re used:
The most flexible and widely used form of trust. Trustees have full discretion over how and when to distribute income or capital among a defined group of beneficiaries.
When to use them:
To support children or grandchildren in times of need
To plan multigenerational wealth transfers
To retain flexibility while protecting assets
As part of wider estate or IHT planning
Also known as life interest trusts, these provide an income for a named beneficiary (known as the life tenant), while retaining the underlying capital for future beneficiaries (remaindermen).
Common uses:
Providing lifetime income for a surviving spouse while protecting capital for children
Managing wealth across blended families
Safeguarding capital for future generations
Offshore trusts are trusts that are non-UK resident with at least one non-UK resident trustee. In the past, they have generally been created by non-domiciled individuals to keep foreign assets outside the UK tax net.
Our support includes:
UK tax compliance for offshore trusts
Ongoing advice for Offshore Trustees
Ongoing advice for UK resident Settlors and Beneficiaries
Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax, and Inheritance Tax reporting and planning
Updates on how post-5 April 2025 changes affect your offshore trust
The simplest form of trust where assets are held by a trustee on behalf of a beneficiary who is absolutely entitled to them.
Typical scenarios:
Parents holding bank accounts or investments for children
Holding property or assets temporarily for another person
Other nominee arrangements
Our trust services
Our people
It’s all about the people! We work hard to maintain our unique culture and recruit those who share our passion for client service, the value we can add to those around us and our never-ending quest to develop ourselves and our clients.
Sara Pedrotti
Sonia Munder
Sarah Clarke-Rae
Rachel Bowden
Louise Jones
Gordon McCaw
Ben Fiddes
You may also be interested in...
5 reasons why you need regular management reporting
By having regular discussions around the numbers, top advisers (and we can introduce you to one if…
Tax Planning
We often take on new clients that are worried that they’re paying too much tax or aren’t taking advantage of the opportunities open to them.
Research and Development guide
Learn R&D by Wilson Partners. Read our free guide on Research and Development (R&D) and it’s benefits to innovators regarding tax relief.
Together thinking
June 2026 – Tax News
This month’s update covers increases to tax-free mileage rates, a temporary VAT reduction for certain family-focused activities, new dividend reporting requirements, developments in the R&D tax relief regime and a useful reminder on employment status following a recent football referee case.
Property Newsletter – June 2026
This month we look at the ongoing impact of the Renters’ Rights Act, a welcome update on SDLT concerns for periodic tenancies, and whether holiday lets remain an attractive option for landlords considering alternatives to traditional buy-to-let.
Property Newsletter – May 2026
Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax is now live. Many self-employed individuals and landlords with turnover above £50,000 in 2024/25 were brought into the regime from 6 April 2026.
Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED): A Guide for Property Owners
Introduced to curb the use of corporate structures holding high-value residential properties, the Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED) applies to ‘non-natural persons,’ which includes companies, partnerships with a company member...
What is transfer pricing?
Transfer pricing can apply to all transactions between connected parties. For accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2026, a UK-to-UK exemption will largely remove the requirement to apply transfer pricing rules to domestic transactions.…
The £1m Inheritance Tax bill Is no longer just a London problem
Particularly in areas such as Berkshire, Surrey, and Cambridge, where property inflation alone can push an Estate well beyond £1 million. For business owners, there is an added layer of risk. Reliefs such as Business Relief can be extremely…
Revenue recognition: a five-step framework
From 1 January 2026, a new standard for revenue recognition will come into force and it’s something every business should be paying close attention to. This isn't just a technical accounting update.
Autumn Budget report November 2025
It feels like the speculation over 26th November’s Autumn budget started as soon as the Spring statement had finished and after many rumours around the different policy changes...
