How are blended families and digital data reshaping genealogy services?
In this episode of the Today’s Wills and Probate podcast, host David Opie welcomes Anthony Allsopp, Head of Business, and Simon Barber, Technical Manager at Title Research, to explore the nuanced challenges of probate genealogy and the role of missing beneficiary insurance. The conversation begins with a look at Title Research’s history, from its founding in 1965 to its evolution into […]
Interview: Professor Nick Hopkins, Modernising Wills Law
The project to modernise wills law book-ends the career of Professor Nick Hopkins in his role as the Commissioner for Property, Family and Trust Law at The Law Commission as he departs in the coming months following the end of his tenure. Included in the 12th programme of law reform in 2014, the work has […]
Building a national brand in end-of-life planning
In this episode of the Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast, host David Opie welcomes Sam Grice, founder of Octopus Legacy (formerly Guardian Angel), to discuss the origins, evolution, and future ambitions of one of the fastest-growing companies in the end-of-life planning and bereavement support space. Sam’s journey into the wills and probate sector began with […]
I can’t believe I get paid to do this!
In the latest episode of the Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast, host David Opie discusses the intriguing and often surprising world of probate genealogy with Eileen Lavelle, Regional Head at Anglia Research. Eileen offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it means to be a probate genealogist and how their work dovetails with the probate process. […]
Defining workplace culture and its impact on leaders and employees
The latest Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast welcomes workplace culture and staff retention specialist Andre Thomas of Thomas Telman to discuss the critical importance of cultivating a positive workplace culture and the direct impact this has on staff retention and overall business success. The firm has created a empirical methodology by which culture can be […]
What to expect from the Law Commission’s upcoming report
The Wills Act has remained largely unchanged for over 150 years. The Law Commission first tackled its reform in 2017, paused to address marriage law, and revisited it with a supplementary consultation in 2023. The result will likely be a comprehensive overhaul of how wills are made and interpreted in England and Wales in it’s […]
Strategically navigating a consolidating estate planning market
Arken Group CEO Dave Newick joins the Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast to discuss the output of a recent report published by Arken looking at the current landscape of the private client sector. The podcast focuses on three key discussion points borne out of the report; law firms and professionals need to be; better at […]
Life in the law – have your say before 21st March 2025
Podcast host David Opie is joined by CEO of the charity LawCare, Elizabeth Rimmer, to discuss their latest “Life in the Law” surveys which are now open for completion until Friday 21st March. LawCare supports and promotes mental health and wellbeing across the legal services sector. They have 2 main focuses. Their first is in […]
“Delegate Now to Supercharge Your Profits”
The Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast welcomes back Dan Warburton, a law firm consultant and trainer who specialises in helping individuals delegate work more effectively; in the process junior staff are elevated, the individual has a happier work/life balance, and ultimately the firm can be more profitable. It’s a soapbox Dan has jumped on before […]
‘Tech is only as good as the data you put in it’
In the second episode of the fourth series of the Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast, host David Opie sat down with Taz Khalid, CEO, and Jean Ward, COO of My Probate Solicitor (MPS), to discuss the launch of the new business and the introduction of ZENA – an AI-powered “warrior princess” designed to streamline probate […]
Tackling the ‘yawning gap’ between professional and care sectors
In the first episode of the fourth series of the Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast, host David Opie is joined by Alison Hesketh of TimeFinders; a service best described as providing later life admin support. Filling the “yawning gap” between the legal and financial professions, and the care sector, TimeFinders was set up in 2010 […]
Probate administration; better or worse?
What is the current sentiment across the profession around wills, probate, client experience, speed of administration, attitude toward financial services… that is the topic of the latest Today’s Wills and Probate which delves into the recently published “Bereavement Index”; an annual report tracking the key issues facing individuals and firms dealing with the administration of […]
Shared experience; insight and best practice in estate administration
Legal Services Director at Kings Court Trust Charlotte Toogood joins the latest Today’s Wills and Probate podcast to impart her experience of working in estate administration over the last 16 years. With contentious probate on the rise Charlotte shares her thoughts on what we can do as practitioners, and how we can better advise families […]
Case Review: The Lessons of Leonard v Leonard
Today’s Wills and Probate Host David Opie is joined by Birketts’ Head of the Private Wealth Dispute Team Bernadette Baker and Partner in the team Kate Harris to discuss the case of Leonard v Leonard; a convoluted and disputed probate case concerning the estate of Jack Leonard and the validity of two separate Wills. Bernadette […]
QualitySolicitors – The next chapter
As one of the disruptors in the wake of the Legal Services Act 2007 QualitySolicitors (QS) was launched in 2009 with the ambition to help the high street fight back against the anticipated onslaught of major brands entering the legal market – so-called ‘Tesco Law.’ QS grew rapidly, with firms up and down the country […]
Free and low cost will schemes – good or bad?
Free and low cost will schemes are an established part of the wills and probate sector, providing charities with valuable legacy income streams, and practitioners with their largest source of lead generation. The latest Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast welcomes Richard Millar of Capacity Marketing on to discuss the value of free and low cost […]
Don’t forget about attendance allowance
Dean Morgan is the Managing Director of a franchise of Grey Matters Consultancy; a business founded with the aim of meeting the needs of those in retirement at the point they need additional assistance, and for offering guidance to those who have the responsibility for their care. Dean is himself a franchisee based in Cardiff […]
The launch of the National Association of Independent Administrators
Helen Stewart, Partner and Head of Probate at Thomson, Snell & Passmore joins the latest Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast to discuss the launch of a new association to support collaboration and best practice amongst independent administrators (IAs) and estates in conflict. The National Association of Independent Administrators (NAIA) brings together contentious and non-contentious practitioners […]
Wills in North America vs England & Wales
Tim Hewson joins the Today’s Wills and Probate podcast to discuss LegalWills – his Canadian-based technology company providing will writing and estate planning services in Canada and North America. The business started in a bar in Ottawa where Tim and his colleagues were discussing whether any of them, all successful tech high-flyers, had a will […]
AML and sanctions data collection – What you need to know
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has recently requested law firms complete an anti-money laundering and sanctions data collection exercise. The SRA is required by Office for Professional Body Anti-Money Laundering Supervision (OPBAS) to take a risk-based approach to supervision and is requesting firms complete the requested information as full as possible. It will, they say […]