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.Before he departs Nick sits down with Today's Wills and Probate Podcast host David Opie to discuss the culmination of 10 years' effort, resulting in the 500-page Modernising Wills Law report and associated draft bill. He explains the focus of the report is tackling the major changes in law and society over the last 190 years. It's a challenge he concedes, but says there were three main aims that drove the commission's recommendationsEnsure testators' testamentary intentions are given effectProtect vulnerable testatorsProvide greater clarity and certainty in the lawIn a wide-ranging interview Nick explains how and why the Law Commission arrived at the recommendations and tackles some of the concerns raised by practitioners in the weeks after its publication.  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, Estate Research, Property Ladder Group and Finders International.