Workplace pressures are experienced across many industries. Heavy workloads, long working hours and quick turnarounds can affect an individual’s mental wellbeing. Wills and probate professionals face the added emotional demands of supporting those who are experiencing loss.
In addition to providing sound industry expertise, solicitors, probate specialists and estate professionals working alongside bereaved clients need to be able to manage the emotional aspects of their work. In observance of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, professionals serving bereaved clients may pause to reflect on their own wellbeing.
Besides grief, wills and probate industry professionals may deal with other heavy emotions such as guilt, anger and uncertainty. They may also encounter family conflict, have sensitive conversations and face difficult circumstances all of which can be emotionally draining. Maintaining professionalism in the workplace does not mean being unaffected by these pressures. While situations are unique and everyone’s response will be different, having to navigate these emotions and experiences can take a toll on mental wellbeing.
The 2026 World Mental Health Day theme “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change” emphasises the value of having conversations about mental health. Creating space for open, positive conversations about grief and wellbeing can help both the bereaved and the individuals supporting them.
To create an environment where seeking assistance is acceptable and encouraged, acknowledging stressors, checking in with colleagues and having open discussions about challenges at work may be helpful approaches.
Although talking about grief can be uncomfortable, open discussions can help make people feel less alone in bereavement. It can also highlight that everyone processes grief differently and at their own pace. Working closely with professionals and families during estate administration, The Estate Registry recognises that having open conversations about grief and bereavement is important. Building on this belief, The Estate Registry has partnered with Keep It Grief, a podcast that provides a setting for authentic experiences and discussions that explore the emotional realities of dealing with loss.
Meaningful support for mental wellbeing comes from making it part of everyday working life. In the wills and probate sector, that focus on wellbeing should work both ways. Open conversations, healthy boundaries and supportive work environments can help both the people who do emotionally demanding work and the clients they serve.
The empathy that wills and probate professionals bring to others should also include their own wellbeing, since taking care of themselves can help them better support those who rely on them.
About the author
As SVP of Global Partnerships for The Estate Registry, Phil Hickson brings significant experience in developing and nurturing strategic alliances across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Focused on partnership growth, he works closely with organisations to protect brand reputation, strengthen collaboration, and drive sustainable new business development through expert negotiation and management of complex relationships.
This article was submitted by The Estaate Regsitry as part of an advertising agreement with Today’s Wills and Probate. The views expressed in this article are those of the advertiser and not those of Today’s Wills and Probate.
