The fifth rendition of the annual British Wills and Probate Awards is becoming ever-closer. As we count down to the 20th October at the Grand Hotel in Birmingham, our “Sponsor Spotlight” series will highlight the progression, innovation and achievements of all our sponsors who make the event possible. This article will be looking at EstateSearch, After Party Sponsors of the British Wills and Probate Awards 2022.
First of all, tell us who you are and what you do
Estatesearch exists to simplify and accelerate due diligence in estate administration. Our platform allows private client practitioners to deliver greater value to their clients whilst helping them to mitigate against risk. Our range of searches and services, accessed from one, innovative portal, transforms processes for thousands of clients all over the UK. It provides simple and efficient access to our award-winning combined Financial Asset & Liability searches alongside other valuable services including Will Searches, Gazette Notices, Local Ads, Unoccupied Property Insurance, Bankruptcy Searches, and Shares Services; all in one place and all on one invoice for greater efficiency.
You’re now working with 1,500 law firms and over 200 financial institutions – congratulations. Why do you think Estatesearch is so popular with practitioners?
Our approach is very straightforward; we work with our clients to identify where they can make improvements to their processes and we offer real solutions. We are constantly developing new technology and services to simplify the varied and complex work that private client practitioners undertake, offering knowledge and insight along the way. The aim is to make their job easier, reduce risk and allow them to provide an excellent service to their clients.
In looking to continue this success, how are you developing your working practices, and are you bringing any innovative new products or services to the market?
We’re always striving to improve our existing services and develop new and innovative services that help our clients. Over the past few years we’ve been helping firms develop and implement a consistent risk management policy with regard to various due diligence searches and our new Risk Reports now give team managers access to information to help them monitor, manage and implement the firms chosen policy. We’re continuing to enhance and develop our Bank Statement Analysis tool which uses AI and Machine Learning to interpret clients bank statements and give practitioners more efficient and accurate insights into a persons finances.
Estatesearch have previously said time management is a big issue facing the sector. How can practitioners improve this, and what solutions can help improve their efficiency?
Whilst it’s true that every matter is different, some processes are carried out as standard in each case. It’s these processes that are often time-consuming, but there are simple solutions to make them less so. Our portal enables practitioners to perform so many tasks in one place, cutting down on repetitive form filling which not only creates new efficiencies, but also reduces the risk of human error.
What have been Estatesearch biggest achievements this year? (Optional question)
Our customer service is something we are proud of and this is an area that we will continue to focus on. In terms of recruitment, this year has seen huge growth for Estatesearch as a company. We’ve attracted some of the best and most experienced talent the industry has to offer which means we can build even better relationships with our clients and deliver the best service possible.
What would Estatesearch like to be known for the most? (Optional question)
We are committed to modernising the way that practitioners think and carry out their day-to-day tasks. Our ultimate aim is to use new and emerging technology to develop services that make a difference, enabling our clients to reunite consumers with their estates in a timely and efficient manner. We want to be known as the trusted partner of choice for the private client sector.
