Protecting your position and preserving your inheritance
Assisting a loved one to end their life can have significant and often unexpected legal and financial consequences. In particular, the forfeiture rule may prevent an individual from inheriting from the deceased’s estate, even where no criminal proceedings are brought.
We provide clear, sensitive and strategic advice in what are often complex and highly personal circumstances, supporting you at every stage – from early guidance through to complex court applications.
How we help:
- Understanding risk and exposure – Advising on the legal implications of assisted dying under the Suicide Act 1961, explaining how the forfeiture rule may affect inheritance and jointly owned assets, and identifying financial risks at an early stage so informed decisions can be made.
- Protecting your entitlement – Assessing your position in relation to the estate, advising executors and beneficiaries on the administration of estates affected by the forfeiture rule, and supporting families to manage disputes or uncertainty sensitively and pragmatically.
- Relief from forfeiture applications – Advising on whether an application is likely to succeed, preparing robust evidence-led applications to the court, and presenting your case clearly and persuasively to maximise the prospects of relief being granted.
- Strategic and early-stage advice – Providing discreet guidance before any steps are taken, helping to mitigate potential legal and financial consequences where possible, and coordinating with other advisers where required.
