Nellie On the Sofa

Welcome to this episode of On the Sofa with Nellie Supports. Our guest, Christine Marsh, Leading Courts Costs expert breaks down everything deputies need to know about the 2025 OPG Good-Practice Guidance and the updated Practice Direction 19B fixed-cost bands. In this session you’ll learn • What’s changed in the latest OPG guidance (and why it matters) • How PD 19B’s Category I–VII fixed-fee bands really work • Evidence the SCCO expects when you bill plus common mistakes that knock fees out • Practical tweaks to your time-recording and file notes to keep every pound recoverable Ideal for: professional & lay deputies, private-client solicitors, costs lawyers, local-authority finance teams, and anyone safeguarding vulnerable clients’ estates. Need a capacity assessment or deputyship support? Visit www.nelliesupports.com 👍 If you find this useful, hit Like, Subscribe, and ring the bell so you never miss an episode. Drop your questions for Christine in the comments, we’ll get answers in a follow-up Q&A!

In this episode of On the Sofa with Nellie Supports, we’re joined by Dave Lockwood, Senior Client Relationship Manager at Finders International, to explore the fascinating and often emotional world of probate genealogy and its connection to deputyship and safeguarding. From tracing missing heirs to uncovering lost wills and managing unexpected inheritances, this session dives into the behind-the-scenes work that genealogists do to support private client solicitors, deputies, and vulnerable individuals. We spoke about: The real role of a probate genealogist (aka “Heir Hunters”) How genealogists trace next of kin and verify family trees Why working with genealogists can help deputies fulfil best interest duties Real-life stories of million-pound estates, digital tracing, and lost beneficiaries The risks of sudden wealth and the importance of safeguarding How collaboration between genealogists, legal professionals, and social workers protects estates — and people This session is ideal for: ✔️ Court of Protection and private client solicitors ✔️ Deputies and attorneys ✔️ Social workers, assessors, and case managers ✔️ Anyone working with vulnerable adults or involved in estate planning Watch, learn, and don’t forget to subscribe for more expert conversations on social care, mental capacity, and safeguarding. Learn more about Nellie Supports: https://www.nelliesupports.com Contact us: nellie@nelliesupports.com #NellieSupports #OnTheSofa #Deputyship #Genealogy

Welcome to this month’s On the Sofa with Nellie Supports, where we’re joined by Lewis Hastie, Director of Dispute Resolution at BRM Solicitors, for a discussion on contentious testamentary capacity and the legal challenges that arise when a will is contested. In this session, we cover: What testamentary capacity really means The Banks v Goodfellow four-limb test Real-life legal cases involving dementia, undue influences, and alcoholism How capacity assessments play a vital role in protecting a person’s wishes Best practices for private client professionals and assessors Whether you're a legal professional, social worker, or someone supporting a loved one through will-making or estate planning, this session offers invaluable insight. 🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated with future episodes of On the Sofa. Learn more about our work at: https://www.nelliesupports.com To get in touch or refer a client: nellie@nelliesupports.com

In this session, we explored Educational Health Care Plans (EHCP Appeals). Join us as Louise Thornton and Ben Slater, our senior social worker, walk us through the challenges, legal considerations, and practical steps involved in appealing an EHCP decision. They also answer some questions from our participants. What You’ll Learn: The EHCP appeal process and when to appeal How SEN parents may approach getting the right supports for their children. How Nellie Supports’ EHCP Appeal Service helps families Case Studies