UK Family Office & Trust Structuring for Inheritance Tax Optimization

Background

A high-net-worth family with £100 million in UK and offshore assets sought a legal framework to protect wealth across generations while minimizing UK Inheritance Tax (IHT) exposure.

Challenges

• Avoiding the 40% IHT on estates over £325,000.

• Ensuring compliance with the Trust Registration Service (TRS).

• Structuring trusts to avoid unnecessary tax liabilities.

Solution

Treasure Well Law Associates implemented a multi-layered estate planning strategy:

• Establishing a UK Family Investment Company (FIC) for long-term wealth preservation with controlled taxation.

• Creating offshore discretionary trusts in Jersey to hold international assets tax-efficiently.

• Implementing lifetime gifting strategies and Business Property Relief (BPR) to reduce IHT exposure.

Outcome

• The family successfully reduced their IHT liability by 60%.

• The trust structure provided asset protection while maintaining legal compliance.

• Succession planning ensured wealth continuity across generations.