Jim Emsley on Estate Planning and Avoiding Family Fall Outs!

About this episode

This episode features James Emsley discussing the importance of estate planning and its impact on families.

This episode, hosts Mark Viner and Lindsay Batty-Smith explore the often-overlooked world of estate planning through the eyes of James Emsley, founder of ELM Legal Services. From his personal journey growing up in care to building a leading UK estate planning firm, Emsley offers candid insights into wills, probate, and why so many families fall into turmoil without clear legal preparation. ----- Jim Emsley is the award-winning Founder of ELM Legal Services, a Bristol-based estate planning firm now celebrating its 25th year. With over 45,000 clients nationwide and generating more than £1 million annually, Jim has built ELM into a leading name in will-writing and probate, known for making estate planning clear, accessible, and stress-free for families across the UK. Raised in care and diagnosed with ADHD later in life, Jim grew the business from a back bedroom to a thriving operation across two offices, earning recognition in The Guardian and a shortlisting for Boutique Estate Planning Company of the Year at the Today’s Wills and Probate Awards. He is a sought-after media commentator on topics from trusts and inheritance to home ownership and its impact on estates

People in this episode

Hosts: Mark Viner, Lindsay Batty-Smith

Guest: James Emsley

Topics covered

• estate planning
• wills
• probate
• family dynamics
• legal preparation

Keywords

• estate planning
• wills
• probate
• family turmoil
• legal services
• inheritance
• trusts

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: ELM Legal Services, The Guardian

Places: UK

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