Thorntons partners appointed to global STEP steering committees
Two Thorntons lawyers have been elected to global steering committees for the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), reinforcing…
Private Client
Don’t let your Will Become a Punchline…
The danger of trusting an online system when writing a Will has been demonstrated once again in a recent court decision. Almost ten years…
A new era of trust compliance
Trustees across the UK are currently rushing to register their trusts on HMRC’s Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) system to meet the…
Brace for impact: what a tax-raising Budget could mean for asset-holders
With a reported £20 billion black hole to plug, the Chancellor has been clear: the country must pay up, especially those who can shoulder…
Understanding the New Inheritance Tax Rules: What Trust Owners and Families Need to Know
From 6 April 2026, one of the biggest shifts in UK inheritance tax in decades will come into effect. The government’s proposed changes to…
How professional property valuations can protect against inheritance tax
As the inheritance tax (IHT) landscape becomes ever more complex, it is becoming increasingly clear that you don’t need to be rich to be…
The Potentially Devastating Impact of IHT Reforms on Scotland’s Family Businesses, and What You Can Do Now to Protect Your Legacy
Chris Gardiner, Partner at Thorntons Law, discusses the impact of Inheritance Reforms on Scotland’s family-owned business, and the steps…
Concerned about the cost of care?
While only around 1 in 4 of us will require to go into residential or nursing care, many of us are concerned about the cost of care as we…
From Settlement to Settlor: Protecting your Compensation with Personal Injury Trusts.
If you have received compensation following a personal injury, you might be wondering what to do next. While it's tempting to dream of…
The lack of a Power of Attorney could keep you in hospital, even if you're fit to leave
A few months ago, Professor Angela Wallace, Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, once again…
The importance of planning for the future
Writing a Will is one of the easiest ways to take control of your future, yet a staggering two out of three Scots do not have anything…
The proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BRP) for Inheritance Tax
The recent proposals announced in the Autumn Budget 2024 regarding Inheritance Tax (IHT) could have significant implications for farmers,…
Autumn Budget 2024: Changes to pension taxation to affect individuals and business owners
There was significant speculation about last year’s Budget, the first from a Labour Government in fifteen years. Changes to the taxation of…
Recent English Case highlights the importance of Wills and risk shocking revelations at funerals
A recent English County Court case highlighted the risks of not having a Will especially when there are shocking revelations after a parent…
New Year, New You – New Will?
Now that 2025 has begun, many people will have been thinking about New Year’s resolutions. Most are, quite rightly, keen to…
Thorntons expands leadership team with two new Partners
Independent full-service Scottish law firm Thorntons has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of two new partners, one an…
Powers of Attorney: Choosing the right Attorney for you.
Powers of Attorney have been in the news in recent times, and not in a favourable light. In July, former TV presenter Hayley Matthews was…
Conflicts and Captain Tom - A Trustee's Duties
This week, the Charity Commission published its long awaited report on the Captain Tom Foundation. While it featured some significant…
Unpacking The Autumn Budget: Our Legal Experts Analyse What Legislative and Tax Changes Could Mean for You
Following weeks of speculation the 2024 Autumn Budget has been announced. In what is one of the largest tax rising budgets in history…
“There’s not much money left.” How Rachel Reeves’ Plan to fill the £22bn Black Hole Could Impact Estate Planning, And What To Do About It
Rachel Reeves’s first Budget could be the most significant in a generation. Since entering office, the Chancellor has been steadfast in her…
The most significant budget in a generation?
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, will deliver the Labour Government’s first Budget Statement on 30 October 2024. Since…