Guide
A checklist before gifting savings to adult children
Helping with a house deposit or clearing student debt can be life-changing for adult children. Before you transfer a large sum, confirm your own emergency fund still covers at least three months of essential bills, and that any remaining mortgage or care costs you expect are funded.
Keep a simple record of the gift date and amount. If the gift is a loan you expect to be repaid, put that in writing — informal family loans create friction when memories differ. Inheritance tax rules on gifts are detailed; for larger amounts, a solicitor and adviser should coordinate.
Equalising gifts between siblings is a family decision, not a financial rule. What we can help with is showing how a gift changes your retirement income path so the generosity does not quietly undermine the plan you already made.