A personal injury compensation payment can affect means-tested benefits, but the outcome depends on the benefit, the source and timing of the money, and how it is held. A properly established and operated personal injury trust can help preserve the relevant disregard. It is not needed by every injured person, does not make every payment invisible and should not be treated as a universal way to avoid tax or care charges.
The useful decision is whether a trust or another suitable arrangement is appropriate before compensation arrives, including an interim payment. That requires a current benefits review, a clear receipt history and advice about the person's capacity, practical needs and likely future circumstances. Waiting until a final settlement cheque clears can leave avoidable pressure around banking, documents and reporting.
This guide concerns planning from an England-and-Wales perspective, checked to 2 October 2026. Social security rules, local authority charging and trust law must be distinguished. Wales and England do not have identical social care charging systems, and a rule for Universal Credit should not be copied across every other benefit or assessment. The worksheet below helps identify the questions for suitably qualified advisers.
Benefits affected: begin with a complete household picture
Means-tested and non-means-tested benefits are different
Means-tested support can take account of income and capital, subject to detailed disregards. A compensation payment may therefore matter even when it is intended to fund future treatment or care. The description “damages for injury” does not by itself tell the decision-maker how every part of the money must be treated under every scheme.
Other benefits are not based on savings in the same way. For example, official Personal Independence Payment guidance explains that PIP can be paid regardless of income or savings, subject to its own eligibility rules. That does not mean a person receiving PIP has no means-tested benefits as well. A household may receive several forms of support with different tests.
List each payment by its actual name and administering body. Include Universal Credit, any remaining relevant legacy benefits, pension-related support, housing assistance and council tax support where applicable. Add a partner's awards and any local authority financial assessment. Do not rely on the total monthly amount entering the bank account to identify the underlying benefit.
A disregard and a reporting duty can coexist
Money can be disregarded in an assessment yet still need to be reported. The decision-maker may need evidence of its source, receipt date and legal arrangements before applying the disregard. Hiding a payment or assuming the department will infer its nature from a bank reference can create an unnecessary dispute.
The government's Universal Credit guidance on money, savings and investments specifically addresses personal injury compensation and reporting. It describes a temporary period during which qualifying compensation is not taken into account and the relevance of a trust or annuity afterward. This is a starting point for Universal Credit, not a promise about every benefit or every sum paid after an injury.
Keep the notification, documents supplied and written decision or journal response. If an adviser says the funds should be disregarded, ask which provision supports that view and what evidence the benefit office needs. A bank account labelled “compensation” is useful identification, but the label alone does not establish that a valid trust exists or that the relevant conditions have been met.
Consider benefits likely to become relevant later
A person may currently be working but face uncertain long-term earning capacity. A trust decision may therefore require consideration of foreseeable future means-tested support, not just benefits received on the day of settlement. Conversely, a speculative possibility should not automatically justify an expensive arrangement with ongoing obligations. Ask the adviser to explain the likely benefit and cost in the actual circumstances.
Household changes can matter. A partner may stop work to provide care, a relationship may change, or the injured person may need a local authority assessment later. Record realistic possibilities without treating them as certain. The advice should distinguish current entitlement, plausible future need and remote scenarios, so the decision remains proportionate to the amount and purpose of compensation.
Local authority care is a separate assessment
A benefits disregard is not the same thing as a complete answer about social care funding. The relevant authority must apply the correct national framework and the person's circumstances. England and Wales have different charging arrangements, and particular forms of compensation or court-controlled funds may require separate analysis.
If care support is involved, provide the assessment, care plan, financial assessment and correspondence to the specialist adviser. Ask which capital and income rules apply and how the proposed trust interacts with them. Do not assume that a trust guarantees a service will be provided, that every expenditure is ignored, or that an existing contribution can be stopped without a decision.
Receipt dates: plan before the first relevant payment
The temporary period is not an instruction to wait
For Universal Credit, regulation 75 of the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 addresses qualifying personal injury sums, including amounts held in trust, certain regular payments and a sum paid within the preceding 12 months. The regulation's actual conditions matter. Do not replace “12 months” with a universal “52 weeks” rule and apply it indiscriminately across benefits.
The practical lesson is to obtain advice early, not to spend most of the temporary period deciding whether to ask. Trust drafting, selection of trustees and opening a suitable account can take time. If identity checks or banking arrangements are delayed, the intended transfer may not be ready when expected. A timetable built around the last possible day has little room for correction.
Ask the adviser to calculate the relevant date for each benefit and payment. Keep the reasoning with the file. Different schemes may use different language, and earlier compensation may affect the analysis. Do not assume every later instalment restarts protection for all the money already received or that the final settlement is necessarily the first important receipt.
Interim payments belong in the chronology
An interim payment can arrive before the final value of a claim is known. It may be needed for rehabilitation, accommodation or urgent expenditure, but it can also be relevant to benefits planning. Tell the adviser about any previous interim sums, advances or payments connected with the injury, including those paid through a solicitor or directly to you.
The article Financial Help Before Settlement: Interim Payments explains the separate question of obtaining funds during a claim. A decision to seek an interim payment should be accompanied by a plan for receipt, reporting and use. The urgent purpose of the payment does not make its legal treatment irrelevant.
Record the date the payer sent the money, the date it entered any client account, the date released to you and the date credited to the destination account. Ask which date is legally relevant in the circumstances rather than choosing the most convenient one. Keep the covering letter identifying what the payment represents and whether it is repayable or subject to any conditions.
Different payment types should not be merged
A settlement can contain injury compensation, interest, costs and other components. Other receipts may include insurance benefits, employer payments, charitable support or compensation under a special statutory scheme. Their treatment may differ. Provide the settlement breakdown and source documents so the adviser can determine which funds qualify for a particular disregard.
A payment because someone else was injured or died may require different analysis from compensation for your own injury. Do not assume that every bereavement, dependency or insurance payment can be placed into a personal injury trust with identical effects. The beneficiary, legal source and basis of the award must be identified before selecting the arrangement.
Where costs are deducted before money reaches you, preserve the gross award, deductions and net transfer records. The trust adviser needs to understand the source and traceability of the actual fund. For the separate settlement accounting issue, see Understanding Deductions From Compensation. A clear net figure helps with planning but does not replace benefits advice.
If money has already arrived, reconstruct rather than panic
Create a receipt and movement timeline immediately. Identify the original payment, accounts used, transfers, withdrawals, purchases and any remaining balance. Keep complete statements and settlement correspondence. If funds were mixed with ordinary savings, the tracing exercise may be more difficult, but do not assume without advice that nothing can be done.
Do not backdate a deed, change payment descriptions or conceal an account to make the chronology look better. A specialist needs the true sequence to advise on available steps and any period when benefits may have been affected. Correct reporting or a challenge to an incorrect decision should be handled through the proper process, supported by documents.
Specialist advice: identify the jobs that need doing
Benefits advice and trust drafting are related but distinct
A benefits adviser can identify the awards, applicable capital and income rules, reporting duties and consequences of planned withdrawals. A trust specialist can advise on the legal structure, terms, trustees and establishment. A financial adviser may be needed for investment or long-term budgeting, while tax advice may address income, gains and reporting. One professional may cover some of these areas, but do not assume all are included automatically.
Ask who is responsible for bringing the advice together. A legally valid trust that is poorly matched to the beneficiary's needs can be impractical. A benefits plan without a properly established arrangement can fail to achieve its purpose. The handover should include the source of funds, receipt dates, current benefits, anticipated spending and any court involvement.
Request a written explanation of why the recommended arrangement is suitable and what alternatives were considered. Alternatives may be relevant where funds are administered by a court or paid in an appropriate structured form. The choice is not necessarily between an ordinary bank account and a standard deed downloaded online. The actual legal and financial circumstances should drive it.
Capacity must be assessed for the relevant decision
An injury may affect the person's ability to make some decisions without removing their ability to make others. Creating a trust, choosing trustees, approving a settlement and managing investments are distinct decisions. Do not assume a diagnosis automatically resolves capacity, or that a relative can sign because they provide day-to-day care.
If capacity is in doubt, identify what assessment and authority are needed. A deputy or attorney's powers must be checked against the proposed action; family status alone is not sufficient. Court approval or directions may be relevant in particular cases. The article Acting for an Injured Adult Who Lacks Capacity explains why representation and management of money need careful separation.
For a child, settlement approval and handling of funds involve their own rules. Do not divert court-controlled compensation into a privately arranged trust without appropriate authority. The fact that trustees are parents does not make every transfer permissible. Provide the order and any directions to the adviser before banking arrangements are changed.
Fees should be assessed over the life of the arrangement
Ask for the establishment cost and what it includes: advice, drafting, trustee guidance, bank support, benefits correspondence and tax review may be separate items. Then ask about ongoing costs, including professional trustees, accounts, tax returns, investment advice, changes of trustee and eventual closure. A low headline drafting fee can conceal a wider set of necessary tasks.
Consider the likely duration and size of the fund. The purpose is to preserve compensation for the person's needs, so costs should be proportionate and transparent. A substantial award supporting lifelong care may justify different administration from a smaller sum intended for near-term treatment. The adviser should explain the reasoning without presenting a trust as automatically worthwhile at every value.
Confirm whether advice given during the injury claim continues after settlement. The litigation retainer may end while trust administration begins. A named contact and clear scope reduce the risk that everyone assumes someone else is reporting a change, filing a return or replacing an unavailable trustee. Obtain written confirmation before relying on ongoing support.
Trust operation and costs: the deed is only the beginning
Understand who owns and manages what
A trust creates legal relationships between the people holding the fund and the person for whose benefit it is held. The exact rights depend on the type and terms of the trust. Ask the adviser to explain these in ordinary language, including access to money, decision-making, replacement of trustees and what happens on death or incapacity.
A personal injury trust is not simply an ordinary account renamed with the word “trust”. The legal arrangement, source of funds and banking operation must fit together. Keep the signed deed, advice, evidence of funding and account mandate in an accessible secure file. Trustees should understand their responsibilities before accepting the role rather than signing as a favour without reading the documents.
Different structures can have different tax, control and succession consequences. Do not assume that a bare trust, discretionary arrangement and trust for a vulnerable person are interchangeable. The label used by a provider is less important than the rights actually created and how they fit the beneficiary's circumstances. Ask for an explanation of the chosen structure and any material trade-offs.
Choose trustees who can perform the role
Consider reliability, availability, financial organisation, independence and the ability to communicate with the beneficiary. A trusted relative may be suitable, but family closeness alone does not guarantee good administration. Discuss potential conflicts, such as a trustee who expects to be repaid from the fund or who is also involved in a disputed household expense.
Ask how many trustees the proposed structure and bank require, who can authorise payments and what happens if one becomes unavailable. Do not assume every account offers the same online access or payment controls. Agree a workable process for urgent bills, regular spending and larger decisions. A protective arrangement should not become unusable because no one considered a trustee's travel or health.
Professional trustees can bring expertise but create costs and a continuing relationship that should be understood. Ask how fees are calculated, reviewed and charged, and how the appointment can end. Where family and professional trustees work together, clarify who keeps records, approves transactions and communicates with benefits authorities. Responsibility should not be left to informal assumptions.
Keep compensation traceable
Use an account and record system appropriate to the trust, with the advisers and bank confirming the required setup. Keep trust money separate from personal savings and trustees' own funds. Avoid paying unrelated gifts, wages or household savings into the fund without advice, because mixed sources can complicate the intended treatment and accounting.
For each incoming payment, retain the source letter and bank evidence. For each outgoing payment, record the purpose, approval, recipient and supporting invoice where available. The level of detail should be proportionate, but a clear audit trail protects the beneficiary and helps answer later questions. “Cash withdrawal” is a weak record if no one can explain what the money funded.
Reconcile the account regularly. Check that the balance, transactions and planned commitments agree. If a payment is made in error, record the mistake and seek advice about correction rather than quietly relabelling it. Trustees should be able to explain the fund's position without relying on one person's memory or a private spreadsheet no successor can access.
Withdrawals need a practical benefits plan
The treatment of money held in a qualifying trust and money transferred into an ordinary personal account may differ. Capital and income questions also need separate consideration. Do not assume every withdrawal is permanently ignored merely because it originated in compensation, or that every payment automatically ends protection. Ask about the particular benefit and proposed transaction.
Before establishing regular transfers, discuss the amount, purpose, timing and likely unspent balance. A plan to pay a supplier directly may raise different practical questions from a large transfer to the beneficiary's everyday account. The correct approach should be supported by advice, not by an internet rule that all direct payments are safe or all cash withdrawals are prohibited.
Keep reasonable evidence of spending on treatment, equipment, adaptations or ordinary needs. A trust should serve the beneficiary, not merely preserve a balance on paper. At the same time, gifts, loans to relatives or substantial transfers unrelated to the beneficiary's needs may raise trust, tax and benefits concerns. Obtain advice before committing, particularly where a trustee has a personal interest.
Tax and registration are separate from benefits
A benefits disregard does not mean the fund is exempt from all taxes or reporting. Interest, investments, property and the chosen trust structure can create obligations for trustees or the beneficiary. Ask who is responsible for determining those obligations, maintaining records and making any required returns. Do not assume the bank will deal with everything because it deducts or reports interest.
HMRC's current trust-registration guidance distinguishes taxable trusts and excluded categories. Whether an exclusion applies, and whether tax liability changes the position, needs checking for the actual trust. Avoid both blanket statements that every injury trust must register and blanket statements that none ever does. Keep the advice and review it when circumstances change.
Investment suitability is another distinct question. Trustees may need advice about risk, access, expected expenditure and the beneficiary's long-term needs. A fund intended to pay near-term care bills should not be invested without considering liquidity. No arrangement can guarantee that compensation will last indefinitely; budgeting and periodic review remain necessary even when the benefits treatment is favourable.
Pre-settlement benefits questions: a working worksheet
Assemble the evidence before the meeting
Collect benefit award letters or account statements, the current household details, settlement or interim-payment correspondence, bank statements showing previous compensation and any court orders. Add expected near-term spending and a list of people who might act as trustees. Do not send identity or health records to an unverified recipient; agree a secure channel with the adviser.
The purpose is to let the adviser answer the actual decision rather than spend the appointment guessing what “disability benefit” or “the first payment” means. If an award name is unknown, provide the letter. If a payment date is uncertain, provide the statement and solicitor's ledger. Evidence can resolve uncertainty more reliably than memory.
| Question | Information to bring | Answer to request |
|---|---|---|
| Which benefits may be affected? | Actual award names and administering bodies | Benefit-specific capital, income and reporting treatment |
| What money qualifies? | Settlement breakdown and source letters | Treatment of each component and any excluded funds |
| Which receipt dates matter? | Interim and final payment chronology | Written calculation and relevant temporary periods |
| Is a trust suitable? | Current needs, future support and fund size | Structure, alternatives and reasons for recommendation |
| Who can establish it? | Capacity information and any authority or order | Required consent, assessment or court involvement |
| How will it operate? | Planned spending and proposed trustees | Banking, approvals, records and withdrawal advice |
| What will it cost? | Proposed service scope and anticipated duration | Initial, ongoing and closure costs |
Turn advice into an action schedule
After the meeting, record who will draft the deed, confirm trustees, arrange the account, notify benefit offices and verify receipt. Include realistic completion dates and a contingency if banking is delayed. A written recommendation without an implementation owner can leave the money arriving before the arrangement is ready.
Agree what evidence proves each stage is complete. A draft deed is not a signed deed; an account application is not an open account; a transfer instruction is not proof of cleared receipt. This distinction helps avoid a false sense that the trust has been established simply because paperwork has begun. Keep final versions and confirmations together.
Plan the first review
Set a review point linked to the actual circumstances: receipt of the final award, a significant benefits change, major expenditure or a change of trustee may all justify reassessment. The review should examine operation as well as legal documents. Check whether records are complete, reporting is current and the spending process remains workable.
Do not assume the arrangement needs to be redrafted every year. Ask what changes require legal advice and what routine administration trustees can perform themselves. Clear guidance reduces unnecessary costs while ensuring that material changes, such as moving abroad, buying property or losing capacity, receive attention before action is taken.
Hypothetical examples: different reasons for early advice
Hypothetical example: an interim payment before final settlement
An injured worker receiving Universal Credit is offered an interim payment for urgent rehabilitation. The final claim remains unresolved. The worker should tell the benefits and trust advisers about the proposed payment now, including any earlier sums. The plan should address receipt, reporting, treatment expenditure and whether a suitable trust arrangement is appropriate before the money arrives.
Waiting for the final settlement could leave an important earlier receipt overlooked. Conversely, the need for a trust should not be assumed without reviewing the amount, benefits and intended use. This fictional example illustrates the timing question; it does not predict eligibility, recommend a product or describe an AJ Solicitors client outcome.
Hypothetical example: PIP and no current means-tested award
A person receives PIP, remains in well-paid work and has substantial independent savings. A compensation payment does not affect PIP through an ordinary savings test, but the wider circumstances still need review. The adviser may consider foreseeable future support, care assessments and the costs of a trust before recommending whether an arrangement has a useful purpose.
The correct decision is not produced by the single fact that the person is disabled. Nor should a trust be dismissed solely because no means-tested benefit is currently claimed. The advice should explain the realistic future scenarios and compare them with the obligations and expense of the proposed arrangement, allowing the person to make an informed choice.
Hypothetical example: money already mixed in a current account
A person receives compensation into an everyday account, pays household expenses and later asks about protection. The first task is to reconstruct the payment and transactions using statements and settlement documents. The adviser can then assess traceability, current benefits, relevant dates and available options. A new account alone cannot rewrite what has already happened.
The person should not transfer money to a relative or backdate a document in an attempt to repair the position. Accurate advice may involve reporting, correcting a decision or establishing an appropriate arrangement prospectively. Whether earlier consequences can be addressed depends on the facts and rules. Honest records are the starting point for resolving the problem.
Getting the decision ready before settlement
Ask the injury solicitor when a payment is expected and whether specialist benefits and trust advice has been included in the agreed work. If another adviser will handle it, request a clear handover containing the award source, receipt history and any court restrictions. The settlement timetable should allow time for the receiving arrangement without assuming money can be held indefinitely for convenience.
AJ Solicitors works on a private-fee basis and does not offer legal aid. The firm's acceptance of benefits or trust work, or the need for an appropriate specialist referral, should be confirmed expressly. This article does not imply that a trust is part of every injury retainer or that ongoing administration is included in litigation fees.
For an injury-related enquiry, use the serious injury claims service page and explain any expected payment, current benefits and existing authority arrangements. Ask for written scope, fees and responsibility for the pre-receipt tasks. The useful outcome is a documented, workable plan for the actual compensation and household circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
1. Does compensation automatically stop means-tested benefits?
No. The relevant benefit may provide a disregard for qualifying personal injury compensation, subject to conditions and timing. How the money is held and later used can also matter. Identify every benefit and provide the payment documents before assuming entitlement ends or remains unchanged. Report the receipt as required and ask for written confirmation of its treatment under the particular scheme.
2. Will an injury payment affect my PIP because it increases savings?
PIP is not based on an ordinary income or savings means test, although its other eligibility requirements remain relevant. You may also receive separate means-tested support that needs assessment. Do not treat the answer for PIP as an answer for the whole household. List all awards, including housing and council-related support, so the adviser can distinguish their different rules accurately.
3. Is a personal injury trust just a separate bank account?
No. A separate account can help preserve records, but a trust requires an appropriate legal arrangement and proper operation. The terms, trustees, source of funds and banking mandate need to fit together. Renaming an ordinary account does not necessarily create the intended legal effect. Obtain advice on establishment and keep the signed documents, funding evidence and trustee guidance securely with the account records.
4. Do all injured people need to create a trust?
No. Suitability depends on current and foreseeable benefits, the amount and purpose of compensation, capacity, alternative arrangements and costs. Some people may gain a practical benefit; others may not. Ask for a reasoned recommendation linked to your circumstances rather than a standard instruction based solely on having an injury claim. The ongoing administration should be proportionate to the needs and size of the fund.
5. Do I have exactly 52 weeks to put every payment in trust?
Do not use that as a universal rule. Universal Credit regulation 75 refers to a relevant sum paid within the past 12 months, while other benefits may use different provisions. Previous receipts and the nature of each payment require checking. Ask for a written calculation and act early enough to establish the arrangement properly rather than treating the temporary period as a reason to wait.
6. Does an interim payment matter before the final award?
It can. A pre-settlement payment may be relevant to receipt dates, reporting and the planning of any trust. Tell the adviser about all earlier sums and provide the covering letters and bank records. Do not assume the final settlement starts every relevant period afresh. A payment intended for urgent care should still have a clear plan for receipt, use and evidence of expenditure.
7. What if the money first goes into my solicitor's client account?
Provide the full sequence, including payment to the solicitor, any authority to hold it, release to you and transfer to the eventual account. Ask which dates and arrangements matter for the specific benefit and legal position. Do not assume that a client account can be used indefinitely as a substitute for a trust or that only the date it reaches your personal account is relevant.
8. Must I tell the benefits office if the funds are disregarded?
A disregard does not necessarily remove reporting duties. The authority may need evidence of the payment's source, date and trust arrangements before applying the rule. Notify it through the appropriate process, retain what you supplied and keep the response. If unsure what information is required, ask the adviser rather than relying on a bank label or assuming the office can see the settlement details automatically.
9. Can I create a trust after compensation has already arrived?
It may still be possible, but the effect on benefits and any earlier period needs case-specific advice. Gather the original payment documents and complete account statements showing movements and remaining funds. Do not backdate documents or conceal mixing with other money. A specialist can assess traceability and available steps from the true chronology instead of relying on assumptions about what happened to the award.
10. Can I put ordinary savings or gifts into the same trust account?
Do not do so without advice. The relevant disregard depends on qualifying funds and the arrangement, and mixing unrelated money can complicate tracing, taxation and administration. Keep compensation distinct from wages, gifts and trustees' own money. If mixing has already occurred, preserve the records and ask how to address it accurately rather than transferring money around without a documented explanation.
11. Will every withdrawal from the trust stay protected?
Not automatically. The treatment of trust capital, trust income and money accumulated in an ordinary personal account can differ under the relevant benefit rules. Ask about the proposed amount, purpose and payment method before arranging regular transfers or a large withdrawal. Keep spending evidence and written advice. Avoid assuming either that all withdrawals are harmless or that any use of the money destroys the arrangement.
12. Can trustees pay directly for treatment or equipment?
They may be able to make appropriate payments within their powers, but the deed, beneficiary's needs and relevant benefits treatment should be considered. Keep invoices, approval records and evidence that the expenditure benefits the injured person. Direct payment is a practical option to discuss, not a universal exemption from every rule. Ask for a workable spending process that also accommodates urgent and recurring needs.
13. How should I choose family members to be trustees?
Consider reliability, availability, record-keeping ability and potential conflicts, not only closeness. Explain the legal responsibilities before they agree. Ask how decisions and payments will be authorised and what happens if someone becomes unavailable or wishes to retire. A relative who manages money informally may still need guidance, and a disagreement within the family should not leave essential spending or reporting without a responsible person.
14. Are professional trustees always necessary?
Not necessarily. The appropriate arrangement depends on complexity, fund size, capacity, family circumstances and the work required. Professional involvement can provide expertise but also creates ongoing costs that should be understood. Ask what tasks a professional would perform, how fees are calculated and how the appointment can end. Compare that with the support and obligations involved if suitable individuals act instead.
15. Does a personal injury trust make the compensation tax-free forever?
No. Benefits treatment and tax treatment are separate. Interest, investments, property and the type of trust can create reporting or tax obligations for trustees or the beneficiary. Ask who will assess those obligations and prepare any required returns. Do not assume an injury origin exempts every later receipt or gain, or that the bank's reporting arrangements discharge all responsibilities connected with the fund.
16. Must every personal injury trust register with HMRC?
The actual trust, applicable exclusions and any tax liability need checking. HMRC's guidance distinguishes taxable trusts and excluded categories, so blanket statements in either direction are unsafe. Ask the adviser to record the conclusion, its basis and events requiring review. A change in investments, tax position or structure may matter even if registration was not required when the trust was first established.
17. Will a trust guarantee free local authority care?
No. Care eligibility, the assessment of needs and financial charging rules are separate questions, and England and Wales have different frameworks. A relevant disregard may affect a financial assessment without guaranteeing a particular service or eliminating every contribution. Provide the care plan and financial assessment to an appropriate adviser and obtain a decision before assuming an existing charge can be stopped or ignored.
18. Can a spouse create the trust for an adult who lacks capacity?
Marriage alone does not provide authority to make every financial decision for another adult. The relevant capacity and any attorney, deputy or court powers must be examined for the proposed action. Provide existing orders and documents before signing or transferring money. The arrangement may require specialist capacity advice or court involvement, and the person's own abilities and wishes should be considered appropriately throughout.
19. What happens to the trust if a trustee dies or retires?
The deed and applicable law should provide a process, but the practical banking and appointment steps still need attention. Ask about replacement at the outset and keep records accessible to the appropriate people. Do not assume another family member automatically takes over. A clear continuity plan helps prevent essential payments, account access or reporting from being delayed while the remaining trustees establish what they may do.
20. What should I ask AJ Solicitors before settlement funds are released?
Ask whether benefits and trust planning are included in the accepted work, whether specialist advice is needed and who will coordinate the receipt timetable. Provide current benefit details, earlier payments and any court restrictions. AJ Solicitors works on private fees and does not offer legal aid. Obtain written scope, costs and responsibility for each task rather than assuming ongoing trust administration follows automatically from the injury claim.
