The latest Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast dives into one of the most pressing conversations in private client work: how technology can transform the way people create and register Lasting Powers of Attorney.

Host David Opie welcomes Matt Cresswell, founder of Power of Attorney Online, for a candid and compelling discussion about modernising a process that millions still find confusing, slow and inaccessible.

Matt’s route into the sector is far from traditional. With a background in advertising, marketing and eight years at Facebook/Meta, he brings a fresh, product‑driven mindset to a legal process that has barely changed in decades. But his motivation is deeply personal. After his father’s dementia diagnosis, Matt and his family struggled through an LPA process that was expensive, error‑prone and emotionally draining. That experience, he explains, “planted a seed that maybe there’s a better way” .

In the episode, Matt and David explore why awareness of LPAs remains so low, despite their importance. They discuss the 50,000 applications rejected each year due to basic mistakes, the ongoing delays at the Office of the Public Guardian, and the huge opportunity for technology to improve accuracy, speed and user confidence.

Matt is clear that digital tools aren’t designed to replace solicitors. Instead, he positions Power of Attorney Online as a “Goldilocks” solution: guidance‑led, affordable and perfectly suited to straightforward applications, while more complex or sensitive cases remain firmly in the hands of legal professionals

The conversation ends on a positive note: a shared belief that the sector can grow the market together, raise public understanding, and make LPAs easier for the millions who still don’t have one.

A must‑listen for practitioners, technologists and anyone passionate about the future of later‑life planning.

The Today's Wills and Probate podcast is available on your preferred podcast provider, and at www.todayswillsandprobate.co.uk. Subscribe today to hear all the latest news and views across the wills and probate sector.

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Estates, and Property Ladder Group

The latest episode of Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast welcomes Angus Houston, founding director of Pavilion Row, in conversation with host David Opie.

Angus shares the story behind Pavilion Row’s creation and its mission to support professionals working in wills and probate. He reflects on the early challenges of establishing a business in such a sensitive area and the values that continue to guide its growth.

A key theme of the discussion is trust. Angus explains how Pavilion Row has built long‑standing relationships by prioritising transparency and reliability, ensuring practitioners and their clients feel supported at every stage.

The conversation also explores innovation. From adapting to regulatory changes to embracing new technologies, Angus highlights how Pavilion Row has remained agile while keeping its focus firmly on people. He stresses that progress in the sector must always balance efficiency with empathy, emphasising the responsibility professionals carry, and the importance of compassion alongside technical expertise.

He doesn't shy away from the bigger picture either, discussing the evolving landscape of wills and probate, the pressures facing practitioners, and the opportunities for collaboration across the sector.

Another 'must listen' from the Today's Wills and Probate podcast

The Today's Wills and Probate podcast is available on your preferred podcast provider, and at www.todayswillsandprobate.co.uk. Subscribe today to hear all the latest news and views across the wills and probate sector.

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Estates, and Property Ladder Group

"Be prepared, because the person who turns up might be that bloke who used to read the News at 10."

Journalist and broadcaster Alastair Stewart OBE joins the first podcast of the latest series of the Today's Wills and Probate Podcast to discuss his personal journey and challenges of living with vascular dementia. In a candid and personal discussion Stewart shares details of his early life, and formative influences which took him from Southern Television to a long career with ITN and later GB News, becoming one of the country's most recognisable broadcasters.

His journey to diagnosis, like many, begins long before confirmation in 2023. Stewart’s symptoms first showed in subtle ways before he was encouraged to visit his GP.

The discussion reflects on the impact of dementia both on Alastair himself, and his family. He touches on the role professional services play in making him feel 'safer' and better prepared for the future and provides some candid advice for practitioners on how to support clients living with dementia.

Honest, moving, and at times surprisingly uplifting, Alastair offers an eye‑opening perspective on a condition that is misunderstood and “terrifyingly common, but not terrifying.”

For practitioners supporting clients with cognitive decline, this episode is not only insightful—it is essential listening.

The Today's Wills and Probate podcast is available on your preferred podcast provider, and at www.todayswillsandprobate.co.uk. Subscribe today to hear all the latest news and views across the wills and probate sector.

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Estates