Trust Wills (Couples)

The Strongest Protection for Couples

For couples who want more than a standard Will, Trust Wills provide a powerful combination of partner protection and guaranteed inheritance for your children. Aaron designs complementary trust structures for both of you, balancing security for your survivor with long-term protection for your family.

These are not off-the-shelf documents. Aaron will mix and match trust elements to build the exact protection your family needs.

1. The "Protective Life Interest" (For Your Partner)

This creates a "wrapper" around your estate that supports your survivor for the rest of their life while keeping the capital safe for your children.

• The Home: Your partner gets a guaranteed "Right of Occupation." They can live in the home rent-free, or even sell it to downsize, but the capital value remains locked down for your children.
• The Money: They are entitled to all income generated from your savings (interest/dividends).
• The Flexibility: Unlike rigid older trusts, our "Flexible Life Interest" allows Trustees to loan capital to the survivor if they truly need it — ensuring they are never left short, while keeping the underlying wealth protected from care fees or remarriage.

2. The "Flexible Family Trust" (For Your Bloodline)

This is the "Safety Valve" for complex modern families. Instead of fixed payouts, assets are held in a flexible fund controlled by your chosen Trustees.

• Protection from the "3 Ds": If a beneficiary is facing Divorce, Debt, or Disability, a direct inheritance would be lost. This trust keeps the money safe until the storm passes.
• Generational Tax Planning: By not forcing money into a beneficiary's estate, you prevent "bunching" their inheritance with their own wealth, potentially saving them 40% Inheritance Tax.
• The "Second Death" Switch: We often structure this to sit dormant while your spouse is alive, only converting to a fully Discretionary Trust once you have both passed away.

Who Is This For?

• Couples who want to protect their share of the home from care fees
• Anyone concerned about remarriage risk — ensuring assets stay in the family
• Parents with children from previous relationships (blended families)
• Couples with significant assets who want generational tax planning
• Anyone wanting to protect beneficiaries from divorce, debt, or poor decisions

What's Included in Your Fixed Fee

• A joint consultation with both of you to understand your assets, family situation, and goals
• Expert advice on complementary trust structures for both Wills
• Drafting of two Trust Wills with coordinated protections
• One round of amendments
• Supervised joint signing and witnessing
• Aaron briefs your chosen Trustees so they understand their responsibilities
• Save £350 compared to two separate Trust Wills

What's Not Included (Available If You Need Them)

Our fixed fee covers both Trust Wills. The following additional work may be required depending on your circumstances, and Aaron will discuss these with you and agree a separate fixed fee before any work begins:

• Severance of Beneficial Joint Tenancy (per property) — essential for most Property Trust Wills (quoted separately)
• Declaration of Trust — if you need to specify unequal shares in the property (quoted separately)
• Letter of Wishes (per document) — guiding your Trustees on discretionary decisions (quoted separately)
• Statement Excluding a Beneficiary (per document) — a formal record protecting your Will from challenge (quoted separately)
• Solicitor Capacity Assessment (per person) — if there are concerns about mental capacity (quoted separately)
• Complex tax advice or dealing with foreign assets (quoted separately)

Your situation may be entirely straightforward and not require any of these. Aaron will explain which apply during your consultation.

What Happens If You Don't Act?

Without Trust Wills, your share of the family home could be claimed by care fees, lost if your partner remarries, or absorbed into a new partner's family. Standard Mirror Wills offer no protection against these risks. Trust Wills ensure your legacy stays in your family.

Why Choose Safe Harbour?

• Aaron personally handles your matter from start to finish — never delegated
• Fixed fees confirmed before we begin — no hourly rates, no surprises
• Home visits available across Bridlington and East Yorkshire
• SRA-regulated with full professional indemnity insurance
• Aaron explains complex trust structures in plain English — no jargon

You May Also Need

• Complete LPA Protection (Couples) — estate planning without Powers of Attorney leaves a critical gap. LPAs protect you both during your lifetime.
• Bespoke Estate & Tax Planning — if your combined estate exceeds IHT thresholds, proactive planning could save your family significant tax