Your Home. Your Assets. Protected.
Most people wait until it’s too late. A Lifetime Trust shields your home and assets from care fees, divorce and remarriage, starting from day one.
What is a Lifetime Trust?
A Lifetime Trust is a legal arrangement that protects your home and assets during your lifetime, not just after you’re gone. You place your property into a Trust managed by Trustees on behalf of your chosen Beneficiaries, while you retain the right to continue living in your home and benefit from your assets as normal.
Unlike a Will, which only takes effect after you die, a Lifetime Trust starts protecting your estate the moment it is set up.
One plan. Everything covered.
The Bridgewells Estate Plan is a complete solution for all your Estate Planning needs. Here is everything that is included:
Complete protection for your home and assets
A Lifetime Trust shields everything you’ve built from care fees, divorce, remarriage and other threats, starting from the moment it is set up.
Your wishes, clearly set out
A professionally drafted Will sits alongside your Lifetime Trust, making sure your loved ones know exactly what you wanted and have the clarity they need at the hardest of times.
Your future, protected
A Lasting Power of Attorney makes sure that if you ever lose capacity, someone you trust can step in and manage your finances and affairs without delay or legal complications.
Your documents, secure and accessible
We store all your important documents safely, so they are never lost or misplaced. Your personal Digital Asset Vault keeps your digital files in one place, ready for the right person to access when the time comes.
Here for your executors
Dealing with someone’s estate is rarely straightforward. Our team is on hand to guide your executors through the process, so they are never left to figure it out alone.
Reduced Probate Fees
Probate can be costly. As part of the plan, your executors have access to preferential Probate rates through us, helping to reduce the financial burden at an already difficult time.
Updates whenever you need
Life changes and your Will should keep up. Update it as many times as you need, whenever your circumstances change, at no extra cost.
Always someone to call
Estate Planning questions don’t always arise at convenient times. Our team is always on hand to help you and your family with whatever comes up, for as long as you need us.
Thousands of families protected
We’ve helped thousands of families protect what matters most to them. The reason they trust us comes down to a few things we never compromise on.
Built for real life
Circumstances change. A Lifetime Trust gives your Trustees the flexibility to respond, making sure your Beneficiaries receive their inheritance at the right time and in the right way, whatever life throws at your family.
Keep your assets in the right hands
Care fees can eat into your estate while you’re still alive. And if your partner remarries after you’re gone, your assets could end up passing to someone you never intended. A Lifetime Trust protects against both, making sure your children receive what you always meant for them, regardless of what happens next.
Your Trust is nobody else's business
Unlike a Will, the details of a Lifetime Trust are never made public. No one can look up what you’ve left or to whom. And because a Trust is far harder to contest than a Will, your wishes are better protected against any future claims.
Stay in control
A Lifetime Trust doesn’t mean giving up control. You continue living in your home and benefiting from your assets as normal. And because assets held in a Trust may not need to go through Probate, your loved ones could receive their inheritance more quickly when the time comes.
Do you need a Lifetime Trust or a Will Trust?
There are two main types of Trust we offer at Bridgewells. Both protect your estate, but they work in different ways and at different times.
A Lifetime Trust is set up during your lifetime and offers protection straight away. It can shield your home from care fees, remarriage and other threats while you are still alive.
A Will Trust comes into effect when you die. It protects your assets after you’re gone, ensuring they pass to the right people regardless of what happens next.
Many people benefit from having both. We’ll help you understand which is right for your situation.
Lifetime Trusts
This is for you if:
You want to shield your home against care fees while you are still alive
You want to reduce your estate's exposure to inheritance tax now
You are concerned about sideways disinheritance
You want ongoing control and flexibility over your assets during your lifetime
You want protection that starts immediately, not just after you're gone
Will Trusts
This is for you if:
You want your partner to remain in your home without inheriting your share of it
You have a vulnerable, disabled or financially at-risk Beneficiary
You want your share of the property protected against care fees after your death
You want to reduce your estate's exposure to inheritance tax
FAQ
Will a Lifetime Trust reduce my inheritance tax bill?
No, a Lifetime Trust does not avoid inheritance tax. For tax purposes it is treated as a Gift with Reservation of Benefit, which means your estate may still be liable for inheritance tax.
A Lifetime Trust is designed to protect your home and assets from care fees, remarriage and other threats, not to reduce your tax bill.
However, there are other estate planning strategies that can help reduce your inheritance tax liability.
Talk to us and we’ll help you understand your options.
How does a Discretionary Trust work?
A Discretionary Trust gives your Trustees the power to decide who among your chosen Beneficiaries receives their inheritance, how much they receive and when.
This flexibility means your Trustees can respond to changes in your Beneficiaries’ circumstances, such as divorce, bankruptcy or financial difficulty, and make sure the right people benefit at the right time.
We recommend including an Article of Wishes alongside your Trust to guide your Trustees, though they are not legally bound to follow it.
What are my Trustees responsible for?
Your Trustees are legally responsible for managing and protecting the assets held in your Trust. They must always act in the best interests of your Beneficiaries and follow the instructions set out in your Trust deed.
How many Trustees do I need to set up a Lifetime Trust?
You can appoint between two and four Trustees. You, as the Settlor, can also act as one of your own Trustees. We recommend appointing at least two so that if one becomes unavailable, the Trust can continue without disruption.
Who am I allowed to include as a Beneficiary?
Anyone you choose. Your partner, children, grandchildren, other relatives, close friends and even charities can all be named as Beneficiaries of your Lifetime Trust.
Is it possible for a Trustee to also benefit from the Trust?
Yes. There is nothing to prevent a Trustee from also being a Beneficiary of the same Trust. Many people choose family members who will both manage and benefit from it.
What is the role of the Settlor?
The Settlor is the person who places assets into the Trust.
In most cases this is the person setting up the Trust to protect their home and estate.
Does my Lifetime Trust need to be registered with HMRC?
Yes. From 1 March 2022, all Lifetime Trusts must be registered with HMRC. We handle the registration on your behalf as part of the process of setting up your Trust.
How long can a Lifetime Trust remain in place?
A Lifetime Trust can remain in place for up to 125 years. However, your Trustees have the power to bring the Trust to an end sooner if circumstances change and it is in the best interests of your Beneficiaries to do so.
Why choose Bridgewells?
We are committed to protecting the people you love and the assets you’ve worked hard to build.
When the time comes, what you leave behind should go exactly where you intended.
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Thousands of people helped
Thousands of families guided through Wills, Trusts, LPAs and more.
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Whether you’re ready to get started or just want to understand your options, we’re happy to help.
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