Clinton and I recently joined this year’s CISI Financial Planning Conference, where one session tackled a question close to home: how thoughtful Will planning can help modern families preserve wealth and avoid unwanted surprises. 

Family life today looks very different from the one the law was written for. Cohabiting couples are now the fastest-growing family type, and blended families, where partners bring children from previous relationships, are often the rule rather than the exception. 

Yet inheritance law still clings to older blueprints. For high-net-worth families, even the most traditional ones, that mismatch can create unnecessary complexity and risk. Having Citywide in your corner means you are not facing those challenges alone. We help you protect what matters and ensure it reaches the people you intend, in the way you intend. 

Unmarried Couples: Clarifying Rights and Protecting Each Other 

It often comes as a surprise that in England and Wales, “common-law marriage” doesn’t exist in the eyes of the law. No matter how long a couple has been together, unmarried partners don’t automatically inherit from one another. Without the right planning in place, that can leave families exposed to outcomes they never intended.  Without a valid will even the most stable relationships might face such unexpected challenges, so here are three thoughts: 

• Your partner may not automatically inherit your share of jointly held property 
• Assets held solely in your name will pass according to the rules of intestacy, which do not recognise unmarried partners.
• In some cases, your partner may need to make a formal claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 to secure financial support. 

Having a professionally drafted Will is the cornerstone of protection. It allows you to provide for your partner and structure your estate to mitigate Inheritance Tax (IHT) liabilities. Trusts can also play an important role in ensuring your partner’s financial security while preserving capital for children or other beneficiaries. 

Blended Families: Balancing Fairness, Control, and Tax Efficiency 

For blended families, succession planning can be a careful balancing act of competing priorities: caring for a surviving spouse or partner while ensuring children from earlier relationships are fairly provided for. It’s a deeply personal process, and without the right planning, can creates a unique set of estate planning challenges. Here are three more thoughts: 

• Stepchildren are not automatically entitled to inherit under intestacy rules unless legally adopted. 
• Leaving everything to a new spouse may unintentionally disinherit children from a previous relationship. 
• Mirror wills, which seem simple and fair, can be changed after one partner’s death, meaning assets might not end up where you intended.  

A well-structured combination of Wills and trusts can help families find the right balance between care and fairness. 

• A life interest trust can give a surviving partner the right income or to remain in the family home during their lifetime, with the capital ultimately passing to your children. 
• A discretionary trust allows flexibility, enabling trustees to respond to changing family circumstances or tax rules. 
• Regular reviews help keep these arrangements in step with family dynamics, asset growth, and legislative change. 

Where family relationships are more complex — particularly between surviving partners and children from previous relationships — professional trustees can bring real value. Their impartiality and expertise help ensure your wishes are carried out closely with care and consistency.  

For larger estates, trust planning can also integrate business reliefs, family investment companies, and charitable giving strategies to manage exposure to IHT and preserve wealth across generations. 

Integrating Legal and Financial Expertise 

Will planning works best when it’s part of a bigger picture. For many of our client families, the most effective estate plans combine legal precision with financial foresight. When your financial planner, solicitor, and tax adviser work together, they can help you: 

• Align your estate planning with your broader wealth and lifestyle goals. 
• Maintain liquidity to meet potential Inheritance Tax liabilities without the need to sell key assets. 
• Protect business and property interests for future generations. 
• Support intergenerational gifting and guide family conversations about wealth and legacy. 

This holistic joined-up approach ensures your wealth continues to reflect your family’s values and ambitions, not just today, but for generations to come. 

At Citywide, we believe family wealth is about more than numbers on a balance sheet. It’s about the stories, values, and intentions that shape each generation. Whether you’re planning for a long-term partner, supporting children from previous relationships, or preserving family assets for future generations, we can help you create a plan that feels true to who you are and what you stand for. 

If you would like to review your will or discuss how your estate planning fits within your overall financial plan, please contact us to help. 

by Matt Burt, Financial Planner