Today's Wills & Probate Podcast

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, ...

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...

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 e...

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...

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 lie...

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 out...

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, wha...

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...

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...

In this latest Today's Wills and Probate podcast David Opie is joined by the CEO of Probate Protect, Chris Cauvain.  Chris discusses the professional, and personal, journey which has led him to setting up a prepaid probate business alongside his business partners.  With the regulation of funeral planning nearly upon us, is prepaid probate the next "wild west" of the probate world, a...

In this latest Today's Wills and Probate podcast David Opie is joined by Tom Stansfield.  Tom is well known to many in the wills and probate sector through his roles with membership body The Society of Will Writers, through to technology providers, most recently as Head of Growth at WillSuite.  This latest episode Tom and David discuss the importance of understanding how marketing is used acr...

In this podcast, David Opie is joined by Louise Levene to discuss what wills and probate practitioners need to  know about dealing with overseas assets.  In her role as International Asset Services Manager at Finders International,  Louise knows first hand  the pitfalls and challenges of dealing with overseas assets when somebody dies and explains in detail how seemingly innocuous assets can cause...

In this podcast David Opie is joined by Charlotte Ponder, Legal Director at CTT Group (formerly Countrywide Tax and Trust Corporation) and Chris Jones, Managing Director and ICON-UK to discuss the progress being made on the introduction of electronic signatures in legal services. Both Charlotte and Chris are members of the Industry Working Group on Electronic Execution of Documents. and contributo...