Protect Your Family's Wealth, Wishes and Future
Book a Discovery CallExpert guidance on estate planning, inheritance tax, wills, trusts, probate and powers of attorney – for UK families, business owners and international clients.
Why Do I Need a Will?
Married? Without a Will your spouse or civil partner may not automatically inherit all of your estate.
Living with a partner? Without a Will the law treats you both as single and your partner would receive nothing.
Children from a previous relationship? If you are now married, children from a previous relationship may inherit nothing.
Pets? Who is going to look after them when you are gone? How can you make sure their needs are met?
Property owner? You should specify who you wish to inherit or live in your property after you have passed away and consider protecting your share against possible care costs.
A grandparent? You may want to add your new grandchild to your Will so they inherit something directly from you.
Don’t want the state to decide who inherits from you? Making a Will is the only way to put you in charge. It allows you to name your beneficiaries and specify what you want them to inherit.
Trusted by 1,000’s
I’m here to design a legacy which will protect your wealth for future generations and give you peace of mind, so that you can live your best life.
Iwork with a very powerful legal team who are all STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) qualified and I am secure in the knowledge that my technical and legal backup is one of the best available in the UK.
That means I get to do what I am best at with my clients: the planning and designing of solutions for final exit strategies. With over 35 years of experience helping families, business owners, and international clients, I bring the depth of knowledge your situation deserves.
No matter where in the world you are, we can meet online to arrange putting together your legacy planning – virtual meetings available worldwide.
How I Can Help You
Estate & Inheritance Tax Planning
Tax efficient wills, trust planning, nil rated band maximisation, and lifetime gifting strategies to legally reudce the inheritance tax. your family pays.
Bloodline & Children's Inheritance Protection
Life interest trusts, testamentary trusts, and controlled inheritance structures that ensure your wealth reaches the people you intend – and stays there.
Probate & Estate Administration
Clear, step-by-step guidance for executors and families navigating the probate process – so you avoid costly mistakes and legal complications.
Lasting Powers of Attorney
Protecting your financial, health, and business decisions if you ever lose capacity – with guidance on setting up LPAs correctly and the responsibilities of attorneys.
Business Wills & Business Powers of Attorney
Succession planning, business ownership transfer, shareholder agreements, and business LPAs – so your company survives and thrives, whatever happens.
International Clients - UK Domiciled, Non-Doms & Expats
Cross-border estate planning for UK residents with overseas assets, non-domiciled individuals, and expatriates with UK property or family connections.
Protecting Your Family Across Generations
We all have our own unique life story to tell and a legacy to leave the world. A will just instructs what is to happen to your life’s collection of assets. I can create a solution for you which captures the essence of your outstanding story.
For those legacies with trusts, I ensure the solutions are captured and recorded for you and the generations to follow – in the most tax-efficient way.
Families face complex risks: divorce, debt, care fees, remarriage, claims against estates, and financially vulnerable beneficiaries. Using trusts, life interest arrangements, and asset protection strategies, I help ensure your wealth passes safely to intended beneficiaries – not just for your children, but for your grandchildren and beyond.
Everyone is Different
I work with a wide range of clients – connected by a shared desire to protect their wealth and provide for the people they love. Whether you need a simple will, advice on protecting your home from care, or have more complex issues, I can help you achieve peace of mind and protection of your life’s work for you and the generations to follow.
- Business Planning: Protecting your business and family in the event of death or loss of capacity
- Personal Planning: Wills, powers of attorney, trusts and estate plans tailored to your family
- International Clients: Virtual meetings worldwide, specialist cross-border planning
- Preferential Client Support: Ongoing support as your circumstances evolve
About Sally Herdman
I am Sally Herdman, The Inheritance Guru. I spent my early years working for TSB Bank, then as a Contracts Manager in the North Sea Oil Industry, moving on to becoming Finance Director for a Steel Fabrication company. I have since spent many years as a financial planning consultant, both in personal holistic financial planning and the corporate environment.
I am an experienced consultant with a demonstrated history of working in many aspects of finance and protecting assets. I am skilled in designing extraordinary legacies, will writing, trusts, business exit strategies, and inheritance tax mitigation.
For over 35 years, I have specialised in helping families and business owners protect their wealth, plan tax-efficiently, safeguard legacies, and manage probate administration. My approach is professional, practical, and personalised.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need inheritance tax planning even if I'm not wealthy?
Inheritance tax affects more families than you might expect. With rising property values, many estates now exceed the nil-rate band threshold of £325,000 (or £500,000 for those leaving a home to direct descendants). Even a modest family home can trigger a significant tax liability. A simple review can identify whether planning is needed and what can be done.
What is a tax-efficient will?
A tax-efficient will is designed not just to distribute your assets, but to do so in the most inheritance-tax-efficient way possible — using nil-rate band and residence nil-rate band allowances, discretionary trusts, life interest trusts, and carefully structured gifts. This can reduce the tax your beneficiaries pay by tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Do all estates require probate?
Not always. Probate is typically required when the deceased held assets solely in their own name above a certain value. Small estates, jointly held assets, or assets held in trust may not require formal probate. I can advise whether probate is necessary and guide you through the process if it is.
Can I set up a Lasting Power of Attorney if I'm already unwell?
An LPA must be set up while you still have mental capacity. If you have been recently diagnosed with a condition that may affect your capacity in future, it is important to act promptly. I can explain the process and help ensure it is completed correctly.
I live overseas but have assets in the UK - do I need UK estate planning?
Yes. UK assets are subject to UK inheritance tax regardless of where you live. If you are a non-domicile or expatriate with UK property, investments, or bank accounts, tailored UK estate planning is essential to avoid unexpected tax exposure.