A trust, when one is actually the right tool.

Often written into a will by couples who own their home together.

On first death, the deceased partner's share of the home goes into a trust. The surviving partner keeps the right to live there for as long as they need to. The share is ring-fenced for the original owner's chosen beneficiaries — usually the children — and isn't vulnerable to a new relationship, remarriage, or later care fees in the same way an outright gift might be.

Gives trustees flexibility to decide when and how much each beneficiary receives.

Good for situations that will change. A child too young to inherit a lump sum, a relative on means-tested benefits where a direct gift would cause problems, or a family where you can't predict who will need help most. You write a letter of wishes to guide the trustees without tying their hands.

Income for one person; the capital for another.

Most common in second marriages. The surviving spouse receives income from the trust assets (or the right to live in a property) for their lifetime. When they die, the capital passes to the beneficiaries the original owner named — typically children from an earlier relationship. It provides for the spouse without disinheriting the children.