Your Family. Your Wishes. Protected.

Wills, estate planning and trust advice from chartered accountants in Finchley, serving Barnet and Harrow

Call us for a free consultation: +44 (0)20 8343 0583

Most of us know, somewhere at the back of our minds, that we should sort out a will. And most of us put it off not because we don’t care, but because it feels uncomfortable, complicated, or like something for “one day.”

Here’s the truth: it rarely takes as long as you think and the peace of mind is immediate. One conversation with us and you’ll know your family is protected, your wishes are clear and your estate is structured as tax-efficiently as the rules allow.

“The clients who come to us earliest always tell us the same thing afterwards: they wish they’d done it sooner, simply for the peace of mind.”

Our estate planning team

Why Families Choose Spencer Hyde

Spencer Hyde has advised individuals and families across Finchley, Barnet and Harrow on wills, estate planning and trusts since 2004 as chartered accountants, not generalist will-writers.

1.Tax expertise most will-writers simply don’t have

We are chartered accountants first. Every will, every trust and every transfer we help you plan is shaped by a detailed, current understanding of Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax and the reliefs available not a generic template.

2. One firm, for life

We can plan your estate today and as an ICAEW regulated probate provider be there to help your family administer it when the time comes. No starting again with a stranger at the worst possible moment.

3. Straightforward, unhurried and better value than you’d expect

No jargon, no pressure and no surprises on cost. Most people are pleasantly surprised by how simple and how affordable getting this right can be.

Making a Will: The Only Way to Be Certain

A will is the only way to guarantee your wishes are followed after you die. Without one, the law decides for you under the rules of intestacy and the result can be very different from what you’d have chosen. Unmarried partners, in particular, have no automatic right to inherit.

We make the process simple:

• A clear, friendly conversation about what matters most to you and your family;
• Expert guidance on structuring your will tax efficiently from the outset;
• Working with a specialist will writing solicitor, where needed, to have everything properly drafted and executed; and
• A regular review, so your will keeps pace with changes in your life, your family, or the tax rules.

We can also help you put a Lasting Power of Attorney in place so decisions can still be made in your best interests if you’re ever unable to make them yourself.

Estate Planning: Protect More of What You’ve Built

The earlier you plan, the more of your estate you can pass on it’s really that simple. Our complicated tax system rewards those who plan ahead, with reliefs and exemptions that can make a significant difference to what your family ultimately receives.

Getting the balance right providing properly for the people you love while making full use of every relief available takes real skill. That’s where we come in. Our estate planning service covers:

• Making full use of exemptions and lower tax rates on lifetime gifts;
• Structuring transfers between family members as tax efficiently as possible;
• Passing on agricultural or business property, using the reliefs designed for exactly this purpose;
• Moving assets into trust as part of a wider, coordinated plan; and
• Arranging the right life assurance to cover any Inheritance Tax that may still fall due.

Trusts: Simpler and more powerful than most people think

A well structured trust can be one of the most tax efficient ways to provide for the people who matter to you, often keeping assets outside the Inheritance Tax net altogether. We’ll help you cut through the jargon and find the right structure for your circumstances then handle everything needed to set it up and keep it running smoothly, including the accounting and tax compliance a trust requires year after year.

Looking Ahead: When the Time Comes

Careful planning today means less stress for your family tomorrow. Spencer Hyde is separately authorised and regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) to provide probate and estate administration, so when the time comes, your family can turn to people who already know your affairs, rather than starting again with someone new.

Full details of our probate service, including our published fees, are available on our dedicated Probate & Estate Administration page.