Wills and Probate: Planning for residential care while protecting your financial future

The escalating cost of residential care fees remains a pressing concern for many individuals and families.

Little support is provided, and most are expected to meet the costs of their care in full, which can be substantial.

If you have capital of £23,250 or more, you will need to pay for your care in full.

With assets below this threshold, you will receive support from the local authority towards the cost of care, but this is incremental based on the level of your capital.

The average monthly cost of living in a residential care home in the UK is now £5,633, while nursing care costs £6,552 per month.

These significant expenses can rapidly deplete even substantial assets if not carefully planned for.

It is essential to consider the long-term implications of these costs and explore strategies to mitigate their impact.

One effective way to protect your assets is through careful estate planning, including the use of wills and lifetime trusts.

A well-structured will can help ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes, while also taking into account the potential costs of residential care.

Lifetime trusts, in particular, can be used to ring-fence assets, making them inaccessible for care fee calculations.

Specialist advice can help assess and plan for this eventuality, providing guidance tailored to individual circumstances.

There are various opportunities at different stages in life to reduce potential liability to residential care fees in the future.

For example, setting up a trust may help to protect your assets from being considered when assessing care fees, depending on individual circumstances.

Such assessments can form part of a wider review of wills and estate planning
arrangements, helping to build a clearer understanding of the options available.

If you are concerned about the impact of future care fees on your assets, seeking professional advice is important.

Moreover, it can be beneficial for individuals or their families to seek guidance when entering residential care to ensure the fees are appropriate and financial
affairs are managed cost-effectively.

By taking proactive steps to plan for the future, you can help safeguard your assets and ensure that your financial security is maintained.

The cost of residential care can have a significant impact on your assets, but there are steps that can be taken to help mitigate this risk with early planning and the right guidance.

If you need advice, or would like more information, call our team of experts today on 01254 67 22 22 or email [email protected]