Personal, trust and estate tax support.
How trusts can support your plans
Trusts are a powerful way to protect assets, support future generations, manage family wealth and enable charitable giving – helping you put clear, lasting plans in place.
However, setting up and managing a trust also brings important responsibilities. Trustees are required to act with care, keep accurate records, consider the needs of beneficiaries and meet ongoing legal, tax and administrative obligations.
When a trust may be right for you
A trust could be worth considering if you want to:
- Maintain control over gifts to others
- Provide for children, grandchildren or other beneficiaries
- Support a vulnerable individual with care and protection
- Manage and preserve wealth across generations
- Protect assets within a structured framework
- Separate ownership from control of assets for greater flexibility
- Plan effectively for inheritance and succession
- Enable meaningful charitable giving
- Benefit from professional oversight and long-term continuity
Trusts are not a one-size-fits-all solution. The most effective approach depends on your personal circumstances, your aims and the needs of those you wish to support.
Our trust services
Professional trustee services
We can act as a professional trustee where independence, continuity and strong governance are essential.
This can be particularly valuable in complex family circumstances, where additional expertise is needed, or where long-term oversight is required beyond the involvement of individual family members.
Trust administration
We support trustees with the day-to-day administration required to manage a trust effectively.
This includes preparing trust accounts, tax returns, beneficiary income certificates and maintaining the records required to meet ongoing legal and administrative responsibilities.
Trustee support and guidance
Acting as a trustees comes with significant responsibilities. We support trustees in understanding their duties, making informed decisions and managing the practical aspects of running a trust.
We also work closely with families, advisers and beneficiaries to encourage clear communication and maintain strong, effective governance.
Charitable trusts and philanthropy
We support clients and trustees in establishing and managing charitable structures with confidence.
This may include helping families give in a structured and meaningful way, supporting the ongoing administration of charitable trusts and working with trustees to ensure effective governance and long-term impact.
Succession and estate planning support
Trusts often form part of a wider approach to succession and estate planning.
Where appropriate, we work alongside financial planners, investment managers, tax specialists and legal advisers to ensure trusts are aligned with your broader plans and deliver a coordinated effective outcome.
Trust services are provided by Rathbones Trust Company, which is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority or the Prudential Regulation Authority.
Why Rathbones?
Trusts are more than technical structures
They are often built around deeply personal goals. Whether protecting a family member, preserving assets, supporting a charitable cause or bringing clarity across generations, each trust has a purpose beyond its legal form.
Our approach reflects this. We combine technical expertise with thoughtful judgement, helping trustees and families manage the detail while staying focused on what matters most - the purpose of the trust and the people it is there to support.
Connected expertise
Trust decisions often span investment management, tax, administration, legal structuring and family governance.
Where appropriate, Rathbones brings these disciplines together, helping clients and trustees avoid fragmented advice and make well-informed decisions with a clear, joined-up perspective.
Who we support
We work with:
- Individuals and families considering a trust
- Existing trustees seeking professional or administrative support
- Executors managing trusts created by a Will
- Charities and charitable trustees
- Professional advisers seeking support for their clients
- Beneficiaries and families involved in long-term wealth structures
Speak to us about trust services
Whether you are setting up a new trust, reviewing an existing trust or looking for professional trustee or administration support, we can help you understand your options and move forward with confidence.
Our team of specialists
Rachel Lewis
Tax Manager
Rachel Talbot
Senior Trust Manager
Richard Lancaster
Assistant Trust Manager
Ruth Milburn
Trust Compliance Assistant Manager
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