The latest Today's Wills and Probate podcast welcomes Laurelo on to talk about the current challenges facing probate practitioners. Michael speaks with host David about the origins of the business and his ambitions to support those going through the probate process. Describing their approach as "old school," Michael ensures all clients are seen face to face and talks about the importance of equipping clients for the harsh realities of probate, as much as it is important to be emotionally...

In this edition of the Today's Wills and Probate podcast host David Opie speaks with Professional Standards Board member Nick Ash about plans to beef up their oversight of Society of Will Writers members. Ahead of the Society of Will Writers (SWW) Conference in Lincoln on Monday 9th October Nick provides insight into the proposed changes to the Code of Practice Oversight and Governance and Complaints Procedures which are due to be implemented in 2024. Despite what might be considered an...

The Today's Wills and Probate podcast welcome Ian Bond on to discuss the life and times of a private client practitioner in 2023.  Ian is a partner in the Lifestyle and Estate Planning Team at Irwin Mitchell having joined in January 2023 and is a vocal advocate for the private client profession.   Recorded in July 2023 Ian shares a little bit about his background and roles at Irwin Mitchell, The Law Society, where alongside his long standing position on the Wills and Equity Committee he also...

Following a Summer break the Today's Wills and Probate podcast returns to discuss the challenge of generating new and consistent leads sources for will writing and legal business. A perennial challenge, host David Opie is joined by social media lead generation specialist Matt Jones, founder of Shed Social a digital lead generation agency to discuss the issue.  The key to lead generation, say Matt, is identifying where your clients are spending time and target those locations.  When it comes...

If we thought branding was about logos and then we’re absolutely wrong... it's about reputation, meaning, culture, service and so much more according to Matt Davies who joins host David Opie on the latest Today's Wills and Probate podcast. Matt lives and breathes branding and his enthusiasm for the subject comes across through this discussion which provides some useful pointers on what brand is, why it is important and where do we start?  Pulling no punches Matt challenges organisations and...

The latest Today's Wills and Probate podcast is an exclusive interview with Dan Garrett, founder and CEO of Farewill. In an unusual twist of fate, an experience at a Japanese residential home plunged Dan into the world of wills and probate and in 2015 he launched Farewill with the ambition to make the process of dealing with death simpler.  The discussion with host David Opie explores the early years of Farewill and the journey they have been on. They discuss taking on external funding,...

Scott Walker, a consultant solicitor with  Richard Nelson LLP is the latest guest on the Today's Wills and Probate Podcast, joining host David Opie to discuss  the ups and downs of his working life as a private client practitioner. Scott is one of a new breed of consultant lawyers who effectively work for themselves whilst operating under the umbrella of a larger legal brand. It's a hybrid way of working and enables individuals to strike out on their own, with some of the security of...

In this latest Today's Wills and Probate Podcast host David Opie is joined by Exizent co-Founder Aleks Tomczyk. In 2018-19 Aleks and Nick Cousins, his fellow co-Founder of what was to become Exizent, went through their own bereavement journeys and found the whole process frustrating. They also had friends of theirs in similar situations, sparking the idea for launching the business. Indeed, one of the unexpected consequences of launching the business and sharing their experience is that many...

On the latest Today's Wills and Probate podcast host David Opie welcomes Clive Ponder on to discuss his journey from miner to running one of the largest estate planning businesses in the country. CTT Group, formerly Countrywide Tax and Trust Corporation, now spans technology and software, accountancy and conveyancing alongside its estate planning business. The Group celebrates a milestone 20 year birthday in 2023  and is Headline Sponsor of The British Wills and Probate Awards. Never...

The latest episode of The Today's Wills and Probate podcast considers the tricky challenge of generating leads and converting sales de organisations across the legal services spectrum. Joining host David Opie is Adam Stevens of The Law Superstore and Reallymoving.com. Experts in lead generation, the platforms generate thousands legal service enquiries  each month. Adam shares his insight and experience with developing on and offline marketing channels to direct spend most effectively and...

In this latest episode of The Today's Wills and Probate podcast host David Opie is joined by The National Will Register's Astrid Bowser to discuss the release of a wide-reaching report into the culture of Will writing in 2023. The report follows a survey commissioned by The National Will Register into public perception about Will writing and what plans people had in place for their loved ones once they have died. The key takeaways from "The National Wills Report - The Culture of Will...

The True Worth Expert Vanessa Ugatti joins host David Opie on the latest Today's Wills and Probate Podcast. Vanessa works with professional services individual and organisations to help them understand their true value, and explain that better to clients to help them get paid their true worth, unapologetically. In her work Vanessa sees individuals and organisations constantly undercharging, underestimating, discounting, over servicing; she explains how a lack of confidence in conveying...

The latest Today's Wills and Probate podcast welcomes Emily Robertson, Associate from Burgess Mee, to talk about the impact her job has on her mental health and wellbeing. Emily is part of the private client team dealing with Wills, Trusts, Probate and Court of Protection. She explains that each of the disciplines bring with them their own individual challenges not just from the point of view of the practice of law, but from an emotional point of view. Often described as a "distress...

This episode of The Today's Wills and Probate podcast sets out to myth-bust the relationship between probate practitioners and legacy managers; who up until more recent years might have been described as "frenemies!" A profession who deliver £3bn in charity revenues and enable the final wishes of somebody to be fulfilled is a rewarding career and joining this latest episode to discuss this conundrum is Matthew Lagden, CEO of legacy professional membership body The Institute of Legacy...

Michael Culver, founder and director of Culver Law and Chair of Solicitors for the Elderly joins Today's Wills and Probate Podcast host David Opie to discuss his experiences of setting up Culver Law in 2021. Michael shares his motivations for setting up on his own and the the ups and downs of the set up process, from applying for professional indemnity insurance, writing the business plan, submitting his application for registration (and answering the subsequent queries!) and challenges...

In this latest episode of Today's Wills and Probate host David Opie is joined by Giles Wilson Founder and Managing Partner Melinda Giles. With over 25 years experience in private client, Melinda brings a wealth of experience to a discussion which considers her expertise in financial abuse and associated issues with capacity; alongside reform and her own challenges running a successful law firm. For Melinda, financial abuse is simply "not well understood" by the powers that be....

In this latest episode of the Today's Wills and Probate podcast host David Opie is joined by National Association of Licensed Paralegal's (NALP) former CEO and now Patron Amanda Hamilton Starting out running paralegal training programmes in the 90's, at a time when the term "paralegal" was starting to be used more regularly in the UK following its migration from America,  Amanda took on the role as CEO of NALP in the mid 2000's. NALP's objective is to champion the role of the paralegal and...

In this first Today's Wills and Probate podcast of 2023 host David Opie is joined by founder of Finders International, Danny Curran. In 2022 Finders International celebrated its 25th Anniversary and in this podcast Danny discusses the challenges of running a business that has seen so much change since 1997, the changing face of genealogy services and what he thinks the future holds. The world is a much smaller place as a result of social media and the internet and has had a monumental...

In this latest Today's Wills and Probate podcast host David Opie is joined by Arken.legal CEO Dave Newick.  A "technologist" in an industry where technology adoption has traditionally been slow, Dave shares his thoughts on whether the private client  is ready for a technology revolution, or whether it will be more of an evolution.  Add in to the mix a host of wider demographic and economic considerations including  the generational change occurring in legal services as long standing...

In this latest Today's Wills and Probate podcast host David Opie is joined by Aubrey Dawson, Managing Director of Dawson's Auctioneers. Aubrey shares his experiences and expertise as an auctioneer along some wonderful stories about house finds. They do say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and in one example Aubrey shares the story of some rather grotesque plates which turned out to be very sought after! Valuing property is an art and Aubrey outlines a few of the popular items that...

In this special edition of the Today's Wills and Probate podcast host David Opie is joined by Will Aid Chair and Head of Legacies at Save the Children, Jonathan Jacques, and Campaign Director Peter de Vena Franks to discuss Will Aid month 2022. For the month of November, Will Aid  promote the opportunity for consumers to have a their wills written by a Will Aid supporting law firm, and in lieu of paying the firm for the service, they instead donate the money to Will Aid. Peter and Jon...

In this latest podcast Today's Wills and Probate podcast host David Opie is joined by RICS Surveyor Bill Wilkinson to discuss property valuations and imparts his expertise on how important professional "red book" valuations are when taking into consideration the tax implications. In the podcast Bill discusses the difference between a Surveyors and an estate agents valuation. He outlines how he goes about valuing property and the considerations that go into establishing property value; a...

In this latest Today's Wills and Probate podcast host David Opie speaks with Anglia Research's Joe Lander about the pitfalls of missing beneficiaries, and how practitioners might best use resources available to deliver the best possible client service. Joe discusses the options open to practitioners and draws on 20 years experience in the insurance industry to discuss the "who, what, how where and why" of Missing Beneficiary Insurance (MBI) Over the course of the 20 minute discussion Joe...

In this latest episode of The Today's Wills and Probate podcast host David Opie is joined by Director General of the Society of Will Writers Anthony Belcher. Recorded just before the latest announcement by the Legal Services Board that there is no intention to review unregulated legal services at this time the podcast explores what role the SWW plays in the life and times of the sector, and what regulation might look like for will writers were it to come into force. Anthony also discusses...

For probate practitioners the sale of property left as part of an estate can be complex. Lengthening timescales, beneficiary conflict, property clearances are just some of the often arduous parts of the task. In this latest Today's Wills and Probate podcast host David Opie speaks with Property Solutions Group's Managing Director Barry Mattock and Group Business Director Michael Edwards to discuss the intricacies of dealing with probate property and share some of their most memorable stories...