Business Details
Trusted Private Client Solicitors in St Andrews
Established by award-winning solicitor Fiona McDonald, we are a specialist Scottish private client law firm with deep expertise in succession planning, tax law, and estate administration. Our practice is authorised and regulated by the Law Society of Scotland, with Fiona being one of only four solicitors in Scotland accredited as a specialist in Private Client Tax Law. We provide tailored legal solutions for individuals, charities, and trusts, combining technical excellence with compassionate service. Our clients benefit from Fiona's extensive academic background, including authoring legal texts on inheritance tax and elder client law, alongside practical experience advising on complex private client matters.We prioritise clear communication, tax-efficient structuring, and ongoing client education, ensuring compliance with evolving legislation while safeguarding client interests. Our St Andrews-based team delivers professional executry services, trust administration, and strategic tax planning, maintaining strong relationships with clients across Scotland. We demonstrate authority through our specialist accreditation, published legal expertise, and active engagement in professional conferences, while building trust through transparent advice and client-centric service delivery.
Services
Making a Will
Powers of Attorney
Succession Planning
Executry Services
Trust Administration
Charity Law Advice
Tax Planning
Living Wills
Guardianship Orders
Inheritance Tax Calculations
Highlights and features
- We are accredited specialists in Private Client Tax Law by the Law Society of Scotland
- Our lead solicitor has authored legal texts on inheritance tax and elder client law
- We provide tax-efficient estate planning solutions tailored to individual circumstances
- Our team maintains professional accreditation for incidental financial business
- We combine academic expertise with practical experience in Scottish private client law
Associations and certifications
- Law Society of Scotland
Services
Making a Will
Our will writing service ensures your assets are distributed according to your wishes while optimising tax efficiency. We help clients create legally sound wills that include guardianship arrangements and funeral instructions. Our specialist knowledge of Scottish succession law ensures your documentation provides clear guidance for loved ones and executors.
Powers of Attorney
We draft tailored power of attorney documents allowing appointed individuals to manage financial affairs and welfare decisions. Our service ensures compliance with Scottish legislation while creating flexible arrangements that protect client interests during incapacity.
Succession Planning
Our succession planning identifies tax-efficient strategies for asset transfer while maintaining flexibility for life changes. We help clients structure their estates to minimise tax liabilities and ensure smooth transitions for beneficiaries through regular plan reviews.
Executry Services
We provide comprehensive executry services managing estate administration after death. Our process ensures legal compliance, tax reporting accuracy, and efficient asset distribution while supporting beneficiaries through complex probate procedures.
Trust Administration
Our trust services cover formation, tax compliance, and administration for various trust structures. We assist trustees with account preparation, regulatory compliance, and strategic management to ensure tax-efficient operation of trusts.
People
Fiona McDonald
Founder & Solicitor
Award-winning solicitor accredited specialist in Private Client Tax Law by the Law Society of Scotland. Author of legal texts on inheritance tax and elder client law, with former academic experience teaching tax law at Edinburgh University.
Questions
What areas of law do you specialise in?
We specialise in Scottish private client law including wills, trusts, succession planning, executry services, and tax-efficient estate management for individuals and charities.
Are you regulated by professional bodies?
Yes, we are authorised and regulated by the Law Society of Scotland with specialist accreditation in Private Client Tax Law.
Do you provide charity law services?
We offer specialist charity law advice covering formation, compliance, tax reporting, and operational efficiency for Scottish charitable organisations.
How do you handle tax planning?
Our tax planning integrates with estate and succession strategies, focusing on legal compliance and minimising liabilities through legitimate tax-efficient structures.
Can you help with power of attorney arrangements?
We create customised power of attorney documents ensuring your chosen representatives can manage financial and welfare matters according to Scottish legal requirements.
What executry services do you offer?
We provide full estate administration including probate applications, tax reporting, asset distribution, and deed of variation assistance for estates across Scotland.
