What do 250,000 wills tell us about private practice in 2026?

The latest Today’s Wills & Probate Podcast looks at what can be understood from analysis of over 250,000 Wills and what clients really want. The data is drawn from LEAP Estates' comprehensive 2026 Private Client Industry Report which also looks at close to 200,000 LPAs to inform a profession responding to shifting demographics and rising complexity.Joining host David Opie is Andy Hitchon, Head of Private Client at LEAP Legal Software and a former private client lawyer himself for a "been there, done that" conversation. One of the key takeaways from the report is people are planning earlier, living longer and forming more blended families, creating a surge in trusts, protective structures and repeat planning cycles. Hitchon points to the growing normalisation of later‑life relationships, recalling an 83‑year‑old client preparing to remarry as evidence of how social change is reshaping estate planning needs.Regulation and tax policy are adding further pressure. With thresholds frozen and property values rising, more estates are drifting into the IHT net, increasing both the need for proactive planning and the likelihood of future disputes. Hitchon warns that the sector must be ready for this shift, particularly as HMRC tightens expectations around tax advice.What emerges from the conversation is a sector in transition: more technical, more holistic and more exposed to risk than ever before. Hitchon’s message is clear; the profession must adapt, and quickly. 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.