Francis has been successfully advising Cambridgeshire clients on succession, tax planning, wills and probate for over 20 years. He has particular expertise in the creation and administration of trusts and the administration of estates ensuring throughout that the needs and priorities of our clients and their beneficiaries are protected to the fullest extent possible.
Francis Durrant has always dealt with our affairs diligently giving best up-to-date advice on all aspects of inheritance tax etc.
2022 Legal 500 Guide
Francis’ clients typically include academics, farmers, doctors, professionals and company directors. Recent instructions have included:
- The creation of Wills for a couple each independently wealthy and each with children from previous marriages with the aim of protecting each party’s estate for their own children.
- The administration of a large estate with a significant value made up of woodlands on which business property relief at 100% for inheritance tax was claimed and accepted by Revenue & Customs.
- The creation of a Deed of Appointment to terminate a will trust (under the will of the first spouse to die) so as to enable the entire estate to qualify for the spouse exemption and thus for the survivor’s estate potentially to qualify for the double nil rate band under the current inheritance tax regime.
Francis is a partner at Barr Ellison dealing with probate, wills, trusts and elderly client matters. He is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and the Law Society Probate Section.