Private Wealth Solicitors

Strategic legal advice to protect, manage and pass on wealth with confidence and control

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Personal, tailored advice for complex wealth planning

Managing significant personal or family wealth brings unique challenges. From protecting assets and planning for future generations to minimising risk and avoiding disputes, the decisions you make now can have lasting consequences.

Our private wealth solicitor team provides clear, tailored legal advice to individuals and families with complex financial affairs. We take the time to understand your objectives, values and long-term plans, working closely with you to put robust structures in place that protects your wealth today and into the future.

Our approach is practical, discreet and highly personal, designed to give you reassurance while maintaining flexibility as circumstances change.

Key Contact

Phillip Bolton

Partner & Head of Private Client and Private Wealth

Meet Phillip Bolton, Head of Private Wealth

Phillip Bolton, Partner and Head of the Private Wealth Team at Goughs. Phillip’s practice encompasses all aspects of private client work, with a particular interest in complex Wills, wealth preservation, tax mitigation, and estate planning.

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When to seek advice from Goughs

You may benefit from advice from our wealth protection solicitors if you. Early, strategic advice helps preserve wealth, prevent disputes and ensure your intentions are clearly documented.

Have accumulated significant personal, family or business wealth
Want to protect assets for future generations
Are planning succession for family wealth, property or businesses
Need to minimise tax exposure while remaining compliant
Want to safeguard wealth from divorce, claims or disputes
Have international assets or complex family arrangements
Wish to review or strengthen existing wills, trusts or planning structures

How Goughs support private wealth clients

Our private wealth services go beyond drafting documents. We focus on protecting assets, managing risk and creating solutions that reflect your wider financial position.

We regularly work alongside wealth managers, tax advisers, accountants, corporate finance advisers and land agents to ensure your planning is cohesive and effective. Our wealth planning solicitor team can assist with:

Wills and complex estate planning
Trust creation, management and advice
Succession planning for families and family businesses
Asset protection strategies
Inheritance tax and lifetime tax planning
Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
Planning for incapacity and long-term decision-making
Advice on private wealth disputes and risk prevention

Every solution is carefully structured, clearly explained and tailored to your personal and family circumstances.

Our approach to private wealth planning

Private wealth planning requires precision, discretion and a deep understanding of both legal and personal priorities. Our clients value our ability to combine technical excellence with a practical, relationship-led approach. With Goughs, you can expect:

Experienced lawyers with specialist private wealth expertise
A tailored, highly personal service
Clear, strategic advice aligned with your wider objectives
Long-term relationships build on trust and understanding
Collaboration with your professional advisers
Attention to detail that protects wealth and avoids future disputes

Our role is to help you protect what matters most, while giving you the confidence that your wealth is structured to support both present needs and future generations.

Speak to a solicitor

Whether you need advice on protecting and managing your wealth, planning for the future, or navigating a change in personal circumstances, our private wealth solicitors are here to help. We provide clear, practical legal guidance tailored to your individual priorities, whether you have a specific question or require ongoing support. You can speak to us by phone or email, or arrange a meeting at one of our seven offices.

Call us

With seven offices around the South West of England, we have multiple offices you can call.

Select the office to call

Email us

If you would like to drop us an email you can on info@goughs.co.uk

Visit us

With offices in Calne, Chippenham, Corsham, Devizes, Melksham and Trowbridge, you can pop in and see us. View office locations.

Estate planning for high net worth individuals

Passing your assets to the next generation is a process that requires considerable preparation, particularly high net worth individuals who ultimately have more to give. Successful high net worth estate planning involves multiple elements, from tax planning to the use of Trusts and Wills. For business owners and investors, this extends to arrangements between shareholders/partners, especially when, as is often the case, much of an owner’s wealth is tied up in their business and may not be easy to extract. Each element will need to be very carefully structured and integrated. Goughs’ Private Wealth team brings together private client, corporate, property, family and tax specialists to ensure that everything can be dealt with seamlessly.

Don’t risk expensive mistakes

Supporting high net-worth families since 1882

Private wealth FAQs

Will a prenuptial agreement stand up in court?

While not automatically legally binding, prenuptial agreements are increasingly upheld by the courts if they are properly drafted, fair and entered into with full disclosure and independent legal advice.

What is a trust and how can it protect my wealth?

A trust allows assets to be held and managed for the benefit of chosen individuals. Trusts can help protect wealth from claims, manage tax exposure and control how assets are passed on.

What does succession planning mean?

Succession planning involves preparing for the future transfer of wealth, assets or business interests. It ensures continuity, protects family interests and reduces the risk of disputes or tax inefficiencies.

I already have a will, is that enough to protect my wealth?

A will is an essential starting point, but it may not be sufficient on its own. Comprehensive private wealth planning often involves trusts, lifetime planning and asset protection strategies alongside a will.

Our clients rate us as excellent

Legal 500

Client orientated; they ensure the client is well informed with easy to read documents.

L C, Devizes

Our Wills were dealt with efficiently, we have already recommended your firm to our daughter and husband. Absolutely brilliant – thank you.

Sue Greenman

Everything was completed professionally and within my tight time scales. I would like to say thank you and would definitely go back to Goughs should I need help in the future.

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