Shona Newman FCILEX
Chartered Legal Executive
Shona is a Legal Executive and registered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives. She has over fifteen years' legal expertise, in a range of areas, and is part of the Health and Community Care Team based at our Westgate House office.
Shona specialises in all Estate Administration in particular the niche area of Intestate Estates and family tracing. She also deals with the drafting of Wills and the production of Lasting Powers of Attorney.
Intestacy is when someone dies without making a will. As 53% of the adult population still don't have a will, this is an incredibly busy area of law. Shona's particular field of expertise is in beneficiary tracing which is identifying and then finding relatives who will inherit under the intestacy rules. In most of her cases, the deceased person had no contact with any family and very limited information - if any- about them. It is Shona's job to research their family history along with agents to work out who should inherit by applying the intestacy rules to their family tree. Working alongside these family members - who may not even know each other - is rewarding and challenging, even more so when Shona thinks of the largest cases which have involved over 80 beneficiaries in 3 different countries. Shona works with these beneficiaries in a sensitive, appropriate manner to ensure that she has built an accurate picture of the family, whilst dealing with the legal requirements of probate.
Beside the intestate work she does, she also specialise in non-intestate estates. This is where a will has been made and beneficiaries are known which enables Shona to offer an all-round service on this area of expertise.
So please, if you are in any doubt and would like clarification on the Intestacy Rules or Family tracing please give Shona a call on the number above or use the contact box on this page.
Alongside Estate work, Shona can also assist in the making of your Will as well as providing you with the necessary advice and assistance you need in regards to a Lasting Power of Attorney.