Nicolson, Chartered Accountants

49/50 Bayhead, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis HS1 2DZ

Home │ Services │ About us │ Contact us │ News │ Downloads │ Tax data │ ' 01851 700362 │ Email

Matrimonial and family problems

This is always an area in which tact and delicacy walk hand-in-hand with a robust, aggressive approach.

As the renown local experts in dealing with divorce, the CSA and the WFTC system, we can provide you with confidential, responsible and accurate advice on how to mitigate the costs you can incur. We are regularly recommended by local solicitors as the most knowledgeable individuals in this difficult area.

Whilst we can't change Court decisions, we can help you to plan your affairs to minimise liabilities, wholly within the highly complex rules. Our view is that WFTC and CSA payments should be approached in exactly the same way as any element of tax planning, and that with some forethought, problems can be mitigated or avoided.

In the 1936 case of Duke of Westminster v CIR, the principle was established that ‘every man is entitled to arrange his affairs so that the tax attaching under the appropriate act is less than it otherwise would be’. We apply that principle to WFTC and the CSA, as well as to general taxation.

We have experience of negotiating parties out of the clutches of the CSA, resulting in both parents being better off and ~~having a better relationship~~ reducing the arguments with former partners. Our real life experience is invaluable, having shown clients how some very simple changes in their circumstances can leave them substantially better off.

One bit of free advice: most people leave it too late to plan. By the time they come to see us it is too late. In those circumstances we can help, but not as much as we could have.