David Kaplan On the Lessons from Australia’s Changing Will Industry

Let’s be real—the legal world isn’t exactly known for moving fast. It’s been clinging to the same systems and fee structures for what feels like forever. But there’s a quiet revolution brewing in one corner of the field: the changing Will industry and estate planning in Australia.

And honestly? It’s showing the rest of the industry how things could be done—with tech, transparency, and a whole lot less hassle. David Kaplan, co-founder of Willed, has had a front-row seat to it all.

He mentioned how the Will industry has been changing in recent years as a result of technological advancements.

Hi. In today’s blog, that is exactly what I will be talking about while referring to Kaplan. And if that’s what you want to know, you have come to the right place.

Therefore, keep on reading this blog till the end and thank me later…

The Traditional Legal Service Model Under Pressure

For decades, writing a will in Australia looked the same: book an appointment with a lawyer, carve time out of your workday, and then get hit with a bill that could be in the thousands. It’s no surprise that nearly half of Aussie adults never got around to it.

Kaplan, the founder of the online estate planning service Willed, puts it bluntly: “The traditional estate planning process was expensive, time-consuming, and often intimidating.” And he’s not wrong.

It wasn’t just inconvenient—it was off-putting. “It was clear that the traditional way of writing your will could be done better.” And so, they decided to fix it.

The Digital Disruption Model: Understanding The Changing Will Industry

Australia’s recent shift toward online wills didn’t just shake things up—it kind of redefined how legal services could work. And there are a few big lessons that come out of it.

1. Accessibility Through Technology

The old way made things tricky for a lot of people. Parents balancing kids and jobs, folks out in remote areas, people with limited mobility—many just didn’t have the time or means to deal with traditional legal setups.

Enter digital platforms. Suddenly, you could write your will on your lunch break or after the kids go to bed. Anytime, really. According to a Willed survey, about 50% of users said they felt a huge sense of relief once they had their will done.

And that? That’s huge. It’s not just about convenience—it’s about finally making estate planning doable for way more people.

2. Cost Transparency and Affordability

If you’ve ever gotten a surprise bill from a lawyer, you know the struggle. Hourly billing can feel like a black hole. But with online will services? You know what you’re paying from the get-go. No hidden fees. No vague estimates.

“We’ve reduced the cost of creating a will from potentially thousands of dollars to under $200,” Kaplan says. And here’s the kicker—they’re still following every legal requirement. You’re not sacrificing quality; you’re just not paying through the nose for it anymore.

3. Scalability Without Quality Compromise

One worry that always comes up with digital services: can they handle a lot of clients without dropping the ball? Turns out—yes. Big yes.

Through things like automated forms, smart questionnaires, and built-in quality checks, platforms like Willed can help thousands of users without things getting sloppy. It’s not just efficient—it’s consistent. And for legal stuff, that’s crucial.

Major Causes Of The Change In The Will Industry

As I have already mentioned above, the Will industry has been going through a significant change. And some of the major reasons for that are the evolution in the consumer preferences, the societal shift, as well as the technological advancements.

Let me explain two of these a little further:

1. Evolving Consumer Landscape:

Consumers have become more diverse, and their needs and preferences have changed more than before, which has affected the product development and marketing strategies.

Consumers are focusing more on sustainability, ethical sourcing, and social responsibility, thus they become the factors that affect their purchases.

Also, consumers have become more digitally connected, and they want to have seamless online experiences, which has compelled businesses to change their operations and customer engagement.

2. Technological Advancements:

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping various sectors of the economy by facilitating task completion, improving productivity, and opening new doors.

In order to make their work easier, improve customer experience, and find innovative ways to do business, businesses are implementing digital technologies.

The progress in the mentioned fields helps to create new goods, materials, and solutions that may have the potential to displace the old ones.

3. Societal and Cultural Shifts:

The awareness of climate change and the consequences it carries has raised people’s consciousness on environmental issues, resulting in the choice of eco-products and environmentally friendly practices.

Due to the fact that consumers are more health and wellness oriented, there is a high demand for health food options, sports goods, and medical care providers.

These tendencies have a major role in reshaping the way in which people work or live these days.

The Future Landscape Of The Changing Will Industry

So what’s next? Well, if Australia’s anything to go by, the legal industry’s in for a bit of a shake-up. And maybe it’s about time.

Here’s what Kaplan—and a lot of people watching this space—think we’ll see more of:

• Blended service models. Tech will handle the simple stuff, while real humans step in for more complex issues.
• More specialization. Lawyers will spend less time on routine tasks and more on high-value, expert-level work.
• Global reach. Digital platforms don’t care about borders. Legal services could soon be just as accessible to someone in Perth as they are to someone in Paris.
• Constant upgrades. Technology’s not standing still, and the legal world finally seems ready to ride that wave.

Kaplan sums it up nicely: “The lawyers of the future will be those who can effectively combine legal expertise with technological innovation to serve clients better.”

And honestly? That doesn’t sound too far off.

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