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Legal The
Matters
Flyer
Investigation highlights costly dangers of inheritance planning gone wrong
The dangers of
investing money
in the unregulated
inheritance
planning industry
have been laid
bare following an
investigation by
the BBC’s Money
Box programme
into an Ipswich
fi rm that claimed
Matthew Boast
to protect assets
Partner
against charges
for care.
Clients of the company mentioned in
the report revealed to the BBC Radio
Four programme that they had been
told they could avoid care home fees
by transferring their assets into a trust.
Their estate, after death, would then
be passed on to their family.
However, a number of those who
paid a fee of around £3,000 are now
concerned that they have lost control
of their savings, claiming they have
been unable to contact anyone from
the company. One client told Money
Box they tried to release funds from
the trust to help their son buy a house
but have been unable to do so and
now fear for their savings.
Police told the programme that
two people have been arrested on
suspicion of fraud and subsequently
bailed in connection with an
investigation into the company.
Gotelee has been contacted by a
number of people affected and is
working towards a resolution.
In England anyone with assets of more
than £23,250 in savings and property
is expected to pay for care in older
age.
The issues highlighted in the
programme raise huge concerns about
the unregulated industry of inheritance
planning. Anyone can set themselves
up as an estate planner or will writer
but the lack of regulation can have
alarming consequences when things
don’t go as planned.
you now and in the future.
We can also ensure the people you
care most about are not forced to deal
with unnecessary diffi culties after your
death by helping you write a will. A
will is especially important if you own
property or other valuable assets, if
you cohabit with a partner and even
more so if you have children.
To fi nd out more, call us on 01394
283241 or visit us at one of our offi ces
in Felixstowe, Ipswich, Hadleigh and
Woodbridge.
Time for a break?
See our new puzzle page on page 41
How can Gotelee help?
The way to protect your assets is
to use a solicitor or an associated
regulated professional - doing so
provides you with the reassurance of
not only experienced and qualifi ed
lawyers with knowledge of this
complex area, but also the backing
of indemnity insurance and a legal
ombudsman, who will fi ght for your
rights if something goes wrong, unlike
the unregulated sector
Our expert lawyers can advise you on
the implications for inheritance tax
and liability for care costs and help
P le a s e m e n t i o n ‘ T h e F l yer ’ wh en r esp o n d in g t o ad ver t isements
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