Whilst we still await the full details and legislation of the changes announced in the budget, there are some aspects of your future planning you can start to consider now, to be ready for the upcoming changes to inheritance tax in 2026 and 2027.

When you pass away, the person or people you have named as executors in your Will are entitled to administer (deal with) your estate.

Executors can ask solicitors to help with the estate administration, or sometimes solicitors are named as professional executors in a Will. As solicitors fees are generally payable from the estate, it is important to understand what fees solicitors can charge for their work.

Drafting a will is a significant milestone in planning your legacy. It ensures your wishes are honoured and protects your loved ones from unnecessary stress. However, writing a will is not a one-time task. Life is unpredictable, and so are the events that can affect your estate and your intentions for it. Keeping your will up to date is as important as writing it in the first place.

Two recent UK court rulings underline the importance of having a clear, up-to-date will and highlight the potential complications when a will isn’t regularly reviewed.

 The UK government's proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) in inheritance tax law have drawn significant attention, sparking both protests and discussions about their impact. Under the reforms, set to begin in April 2026, the 100% relief on agricultural and business property will apply only to the first £1 million of value. Property exceeding this limit will be taxed at 20%, a notable reduction from the standard 40% inheritance tax rate for other estates​.

Although there have been whispers of changes to inheritance tax for quite some time in today’s budget these whispers became a reality as Chancellor Rachel Reeves has now outlined several changes to inheritance tax as part of a wider push to raise revenue.