Ep 332: Can you protect your house from the local authority?!

Find a Solicitor here: https://medicsmoney.co.uk/medical-solicitor/ Cyra hosts Trish Venables, a solicitor at Talbots Law, to explain asset protection as maximising assets preserved for descendants and shielding them from risks such as divorce, care home fees, and means-tested benefits rules. Trish describes discretionary trusts set up in life or via a will, where beneficiaries have no absolute entitlement, supported by private letters of wishes, helping reduce exposure in divorce and allowing disabled beneficiaries to receive support without losing benefits. She outlines practicalities, including trustee selection, Trust Registration Service registration, and inheritance tax (IHT) implications such as a 20% lifetime entry charge above the £325,000 threshold and the seven-year rule. She warns that putting a home into a lifetime trust while continuing to live there can be challenged as deprivation of assets and a gift with reservation; instead, a will-based life interest trust over a severed 50% share may ring-fence value from care assessments. They discuss gifting from surplus income, and Trish notes NHS defined benefit pensions likely face no immediate IHT change, unlike some defined contribution schemes, pending legislation. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:03 What Asset Protection Means 02:23 Trusts for Divorce and Benefits 04:19 How Discretionary Trusts Work 05:45 Setting Up Trusts and IHT 08:23 Care Fees and Home Trust Pitfalls 10:46 Will Planning Life Interest Trusts 12:08 Surplus Income Gifting Strategy 14:16 NHS Pensions and IHT Changes 19:11 Costs and Choosing Trustees 22:13 Final Thanks and Wrap Up Want the latest financial tips for doctors and exclusive invites? Join 71,000 doctors here https://www.medicsmoney.co.uk/join-medics-money/ Want a free assessment of your finances? Click here https://medics-hnz5twj1.scoreapp.com Want to improve your finances fast? Then come on our course https://www.medicsmoney.co.uk/medics-money-financial-wellbeing-course/ Want to find out more about our other courses? www.medicsmoney.co.uk/courses Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Twitter Disclaimer: The information provided in this content is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. You should not rely on this content as a substitute for professional advice tailored to your specific financial situation. The value of your investments can go down as well as up. Past performance is not indicative of future results.