TrustsWillsIPDI vs FLIT

Complex families often come with complex requirements to meet their long-term goals, and matters can be made more difficult when each testator has separate goals or concerns in mind. These goals usually revolve around the inheritance the children are to ultimately receive and when they receive it, and it certain cases, if they inherit at all.

Using a Life Interest of the Residuary Estate can cater for most family needs for a number of reasons;

1. On first death, the surviving spouse will be the Life Tenant. They will be entitled to all income generated by the trust and the trust can allow them access to the use of capital at the Trustees’ discretion if desired;
2. All Life Interest Trusts allow the use of the Transferrable Nil-Rate Band (TNRB) between spouses;
3. Each testator can appoint separate beneficiaries from each other;
4. If the Trustees are given the power to advance capital, it enables second death Inheritance Tax planning;
5. The assets held by the Trusts are protected from third parties, including future spouses.

There are two variations of Life Interests available over the Residuary Estate with each having their own advantages over the other. These being a simple Life Interest over the Residue, which we refer to as an IPDI (Immediate Post Death Interest), or the FLIT (Flexible Life Interest Trust).

As well as the advantages above, the IPDI offers the following;

• The executors can claim the Residence Nil-Rate Band (RNRB) on second death, providing the main residence forms part of the Trust, and the ultimate beneficiaries are classified as direct descendants by HMRC to the surviving spouse;
• Power to advance capital is optional;
• The ultimate beneficiaries will inherit absolutely on second death

However, the IPDI cannot offer second death protection if the family has untrustworthy beneficiaries, therefore the clients may need to consider a FLIT.

As well as the advantages previously stated, the FLIT offers;

• Power to advance capital as standard. This can be advanced to the surviving spouse, or the Discretionary Beneficiaries as Potentially Exempt Transfers;
• The Trust continues as a Discretionary Trust following the death of the Life Tenant, which offers protection for the Discretionary Beneficiaries;

The FLIT itself does not enable the executors to claim the RNRB on second death if the main residence forms part of the Trust. For further information on this, please see our published information leaflet in the WillPack Members Area.

For the purpose of this article, the term spouse also includes civil partners.