Lifetime and Asset Protection Trusts – Issues with disappearing Trustees

28.04.25 By Clarkes

Karen Cureton of Clarkes is currently dealing with a number of Discretionary Trust matters where law firms have collapsed or disappeared. This has left clients feeling extremely anxious when they realise that their property which they own beneficially is in fact also in the names of third party trustees who cannot be traced. We have experience of and are assisting clients with this issue.

Further, these Trusts are often inappropriate to the property owners current circumstances and we are assisting in winding up such Trusts. Often clients complain that there were inappropriately “sold” the Trust on the basis of avoiding Inheritance Tax liability or to preserve the property in the case of death of a spouse and remarriage by the survivor but there are other more cost effective ways to dealing with these issues.

Contact Karen (karen.cureton@clarkeslaw.co.uk) or a member of the Probate Team (www.clarkeslaw.co.uk/services-for-individuals/wills-probate-and-estate-management) for further advice and assistance.