The current rules around inheritence tax are complicated and when faced with an issue regarding this subject, there is basic guidance on the government website but it is really much better to consult an accountant who deals with specific inheritance matters, or a solicitor who is used to sorting out family estates. There are masses of adverts on line for getting last Wills and testaments drawn up free or at a very reasonable price. Happy smiling folk sit telling us how to contact this company or that, reminding us we don’t need to pay a fortune to have a will written for more than £19.00. This will of course mean that the contents of the will need to be very simple; by the very nature of it, any complications in bequests or trying to cover all the members in one family can be difficult and of course, the sad reality is that to have anything more than the simplest two line last will and testament needs a properly trained and experienced lawyer who specialises in the subject. So many cheap and cheerful high street ‘joes’ get things wrong and it comes up later that serious omissions arose and its expensive and often impossible to rectify this later. The best way to ensure that one’s affairs are being settled in the best legal way is to engage the services of a family solicitor. They will know every single route needed to ensure that your affairs are settled i the fairest yet most legal way. But before that, one can always have a good look at the government web site under inheritence tax and the laws surrounding the dispursement of estates etc. it is a fascinating read and contains every singe bit of information anyone could need. But paying a legal eagle is still more reassuring to the novice, untrained eye. There are quite a few things that do not attract the tax, for example it is not payable on gifts beween spouses or civil partners. You can give them as much as you like during your lifetime, so long as they: live in the UK permanently and, are in a legally binding marriage or civil partnership he giver. There are ways of using the various allowances to enable giving of gifts that then don’t attract Inheritance tax. These allowances need to be carefully utilised and again, an accountant or solicitor versed in tax laws would be the best person to consult.