Estate Planning 2026 - Virtual Conference

Introduction

As estate planning continues to evolve at a rapid pace, staying ahead of legal reforms, tax developments, and planning opportunities has never been more critical. Chaired by Helen Forster, this online conference with a panel of leading experts offers a comprehensive update as to the current hot topics in this fast-moving area.

Each session will provide a full opportunity for questions and answers.

Conference Agenda

This live and interactive 5 hour conference will cover the following:

10am - 11am: The New Will Bill & What This Means for Tax Planning: The Need to Knows

Helen Forster, Director, HTF Legal

The proposed reforms under the Law Commission’s Will Bill aim to modernise and simplify will-making in England and Wales. However, they also carry significant implications for estate planning and related tax strategies. In this session, you will examine what practitioners need to know now, and how they can best prepare clients for the potential changes ahead. The following topics will be explored:

• Core proposals under the Will Bill: capacity, formalities and digital wills
• Undue Influence clamp down - protection or not?
• Changes to revocation: increased risk of challenge and litigation?
• Drafting considerations for wills, trusts, and related documents
• Practical steps to futureproof estate planning advice in light of reform

Morning Break

11:10am - 12:10pm: Inheritance Tax Case Law: Recent Decisions & Implications

Julie Bell, Consultant Solicitor, Read Roper and Read Solicitors

With the ever-changing landscape of inheritance tax planning, knowledge of recent cases and the interpretation of the court to various planning ideas is essential.

• Home loan schemes - where are we at?
• Cook: late appeal by executors
• GROBs and caring responsibilities - an analysis of the Judgment
• Carvajal and Carvajal: deathbed planning and HMRC errors
• Janus Henderson: recission and HMRC approach to proceedings

12:10pm - 1:10pm: Family Investment Companies Today: What Works, What Doesn’t & What’s Next

Deborah Clark, Barrister & Partner, Mills & Reeve

Family Investment Companies (FICs) continue to be a widely used structure for estate planning. However, the risk of increased scrutiny and evolving tax considerations mean that advisers need to be alert to both their benefits and their risks. This session will examine how FICs are currently used, common pitfalls, and what may lie ahead.

This session will cover the following topics:

• Practical steps and key considerations for establishing FIC
• Exploring the different types of FICs, from Personal Investment Companies to International FICs, and their unique benefits
• Understanding the complexities of using debt within FICs
• Managing valuation issues and related tactics
• Maintaining privacy and protection on divorce
• Future challenges

Break for lunch

2:00 - 3:00pm: Estate Planning Under Scrutiny: Making the Most of BPR & APR Before the Window Closes

Julie Butler, Founder of Butler & Co. Chartered Accountants

With the potential for lifetime transfers, surviving spouse relief, utilising the £1 million allowance, and making eligibility for reliefs more robust, there is a lot of work to be undertaken by estate planners.

• Updating all wills for IHT liabilities
• Holdover Relief remains - lifetime transfers possible but beware the GROB (see case of Chugtai) - how estate planners should adjust their approach
• The recent case of Tanner - the need to make trade robust for no ‘holding investment loopholes’ - consider ‘Tanner Hotel’
• The farm and the lifestyler - 50% relief is still attractive

Afternoon break

3:15 - 4:15pm: Planning for IHT on Pensions

Simon Douglas, Barrister & Chartered Tax Advisor, 5 Stone Buildings

From April 2027 pensions will no longer be exempt from inheritance tax. From this date any death benefits that have accrued in a pension will be subject to inheritance tax. This is an important change which means that pension death benefits are no longer an attractive means of estate planning. The talk will cover the following topics:

• Tax on death benefits - the double charge to income tax and IHT
• Planning for the changes - do clients need to update their wills?
• Effect on the nil rate band
• Using the spousal exemption with the pension fund

Recording of live sessions: Soon after the Learn Live session has taken place you will be able to go back and access the recording - should you wish to revisit the material discussed.