Trusts
Safeguard your assets and support your family with structured trusts
A Trust is a legal arrangement that allows you to place assets under the control of chosen Trustees for the benefit of others. Trusts can help protect family homes, support children, manage inheritance in blended families and safeguard assets for vulnerable beneficiaries.
At Ridgeway Wills, we guide you through choosing the right Trust and ensure it is drafted and structured correctly for your needs.
Why Create a Trust
A Trust allows you to shape how your assets are managed long after they’ve been passed on. It gives you the ability to set clear expectations, outline how funds should be used and ensure your wishes are followed even as circumstances change. This added structure can help prevent misunderstandings, reduce the risk of disputes and provide reassurance that your estate will be handled responsibly.
Trusts also offer a level of control that a standard Will or outright gift cannot. You can appoint Trustees to make decisions based on need, timing or specific goals — such as education, housing or ongoing support. This can be especially valuable when beneficiaries are young, financially inexperienced or require long‑term oversight.
Many people set up a Trust as part of a wider estate‑planning strategy, which often includes a Will and, in some cases, a Lasting Power of Attorney depending on their circumstances.
What are the Types of Trusts
There are several types of Trusts, each designed to meet different needs and circumstances. The most commonly used include:
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Life Interest Trusts - Interest in Possession / IPDI
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Right of Occupancy Trusts
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Discretionary Trusts
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Vulnerable Person’s Trusts
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Children’s Trusts
How Trusts Work
A Trust places assets under the control of appointed Trustees, who manage them for the benefit of your chosen beneficiaries. Their powers and responsibilities are set out in the Trust document, supported by a Letter of Wishes where needed. Trustees meet regularly, keep formal records and may need to complete tax returns, with professional support paid from the Trust fund.
In Wills, Trusts are often used by couples who own property as tenants in common. Each partner’s share passes into the Trust rather than directly to the survivor, helping protect family assets from remarriage or sideways disinheritance.
Our Simple Process
1
Initial Consultation
We take time to understand your circumstances and identify which type of Trust is most suitable for your needs. We explain how the Trust will work, who can benefit and how it supports your wider estate‑planning goals.
2
Draft, Review & Approve Documents
We prepare the Trust wording — either included within your Will or set out as a separate document — and upload it to our secure portal for you to review. You can check everything in your own time and request any changes before giving final approval.
3
Signing & Registration
Where the Trust is built into your Will, no separate signing is required. For Trusts created outside the Will, we guide you through signing and witnessing, and handle any required registration to ensure everything is properly recorded.
Common Reasons to Create a Trust:
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Protect the family home or other key assets
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Support children until they reach a suitable age
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Provide fairly for blended families while protecting children’s inheritance
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Safeguard assets for vulnerable beneficiaries
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Create a life interest in a property for a spouse/partner
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Hold business assets or company shares
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Direct funds towards specific purposes such as education, housing, care
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Reduce the risk of disputes
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Allows Trustees flexibility to distribute funds based on need
Contact
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Contact Ridgeway Wills to start planning for your family's future today.
East Sheen, London, SW14