Northern Enterprise Awards 2025/ 22 Most Trusted Estate Planning Solutions Provider 2025 – Cheshire With inheritance tax no longer being an issue just for the very wealthy – this due to the combined impact that frozen allowances, pension changes, and the evolving treatment of farm/business assets are having on many ordinary families – early awareness and proper planning are today more important than ever for those looking to avoid unexpected tax burdens. There to help everyone across their wills, trust, and estate planning, Howell Griffiths Law comprises some of the finest private client solicitors and planners in the North West. Director Jennifer Howell caught up with us for more. A private client law firm specialising in advising individuals, families, farmers, and business owners on their wills, probate, estate administration, inheritance tax planning, trusts, and any other matters relating to later life, Howell Griffiths is based in Cheshire but operates across the North. Many of the clients Howell Griffiths work with have spent their lives building up their property, farming, or business interests, and they seek out clear and practical legal advice and support to safeguard both their families and these assets. More than happy to oblige this, Jennifer and her team go out of their way to provide advice that is technically sound but also clear, straightforward, and genuinely supportive. To this end, most of this work revolves around helping clients to understand how any changes in the legal or tax environment impact them on a day-to-day basis, as well as holding their hand to guide them through these complex, sensitive decisions with the utmost confidence. This translates to the lived core values of integrity, clarity, and thorough client care. Discussing how these values translate into a series of differentiators for Howell Griffiths, Jennifer told us: “Our key strength lies in combining specialist private client expertise with a highly personal, relationship-led approach. We take time to understand not just the legal position, but also the family dynamics, commercial realities, and long-term aims behind every instruction.” Then there is the fact the firm carries out private client work exclusively, allowing it to maintain strong technical compliance across its service suite. As touched on at the start, this advice and these solutions are more sought after than ever, with the last few budget announcements having had a huge impact on and created significant uncertainty for many families across the North and beyond. Perhaps the most notable shift following this is that more families are being drawn into potential inheritance tax exposure, with rising property values having brought many estates into the inheritance tax (IHT) net. Changes in pensions and agricultural assets have then widened this exposure. Commenting on these developments further, Jennifer explained: “Changes to how unused pension funds interact with estates have caused particular concern, as many families had previously assumed pensions would sit largely outside the inheritance tax framework.” She continued: “At the same time, changes affecting agricultural relief and the treatment of farm assets mean that farming families who previously anticipated little or no IHT liability are now having to reassess their position.” “We are seeing a clear rise in enquiries from families who would not historically have viewed themselves as facing an inheritance tax issue, but who now recognise that proactive planning is essential.” Being based in Cheshire puts Howell Griffiths at the centre of a diverse community consisting of urban professional, rural landowners, and farmers, as well as multi-generational family businesses. The region also boasts a strong professional network and an emphasis on long-term relationships and trust. This makes the internal culture of the firm – which is built around the cornerstones of professionalism, collaboration, and a client focus – well received, especially when supporting clients through major life events like bereavement. Given that the demand for inheritance tax, probate, and trust advice is only set to continue as more changes happen and the current thresholds remain frozen, Howell Griffiths has been investing in new IT systems to streamline workflows, improve efficiency, and enhance the overall experience offered. Refining these systems and the processes inherent across them is set to take up a big part of 2026, allowing Jennifer and co. to better support clients across estate planning and probate work as cases increase in both numbers and difficulty. Ultimately, having positioned itself as the go-to provider for all of its clients’ inheritance tax planning needs in the North West – from wills, trusts, and estate planning for families and business through to succession planning for farmers – it is our pleasure to recognise the prestige of Howell Griffiths Law by naming this Private Client firm as the Most Trusted Estate Planning Solutions Provider 2025 – Cheshire here in this programme. Contact: Jennifer Howell Company: Howell Griffiths Law Web Address: https://howellgriffiths.co.uk/
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