Meet the Team
The Wills and Probate department offers a range of services to members including Lasting Powers of Attorney, Trusts and Estate Administration. Our team have over 50 years collective experience in delivering high quality work in all matters relating to the area of Wills and Probate.
Due to this the team is able to offer a personal service, tailored to your specific circumstances and exact requirements. The team also provides discrete advice to members in all areas of Wills and Probate through the telephone advisory service.
Joanne Shaw – Wills, Trust and Probate Supervisor
Joanne joined our Wills and Probate team from Irwin Mitchell. Joanne has worked in the private client area for over 16 years and has over 12 years’ experience preparing Wills and providing advice regarding Wills, Trusts, Probate and Inheritance Tax. She has completed the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice.
Joanne joined UnionLine in July 2017 and supervises the team and plays an active part in the business development of the team.
Joanne regularly attends Union events providing advice to members on the services we offer, along with talks on current issues surrounding the Wills and Probate area.
Lionel Stout – Wills & Probate Solicitor
Lionel Stout is a qualified solicitor, admitted to the roll on 1 December 1970.
Lionel has over 48 years post qualification experience in a various areas of law, and in the last 10 years he has specialised in Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Probate and Conveyancing. Around half of the work undertaken has been of a more complex nature. Lionel also undertakes audits of complex Will matters within UnionLine, as well as technical support and guidance to the department.
Chantelle Booth – Senior Wills and Probate Legal Advisor
Chantelle graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2015 after completing a LLB Law with Criminology degree. She then completed the Legal Practice Course at BPP Leeds in 2016 before joining the Civil Litigation Helpline team here at UnionLine in October 2016.
In July 2017 Chantelle joined our Wills and Probate Team as a Legal Advisor drafting simple Wills before being promoted to the Senior Legal Advisor in the team in March 2018.
Chantelle now deals with our complex Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Severances, Declarations of Trust and Probate matters and plays an active part in the business development of the team
Chantelle regularly attends Union events providing advice to members on the services we offer along with talks on current issues surrounding the Wills and Probate area.
Chantae Francis – Wills and Probate Legal Advisor
Chantae graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2014 with a 2:1 in Law with Criminology LLB Hons, and then went on to complete the Legal Practice Course at BBP Law School in London Holborn in 2016.
During her time of studying and a short while thereafter, Chantae volunteered for a pro bono lay support service working in Immigration and Family law from January 2016 until August 2016 before securing a Paralegal role at the Johnson Partnership LLP in the Fraud and Proceeds of Crime Department.
Chantae then joined UnionLine in November 2017 and prepares simple Wills, including those that require a severance of tenancy and Lasting Power of Attorneys.
Chantae regularly attends Union events providing advice to members on the services we offer along with talks on current issues surrounding the Wills and Probate area.
Georgina Soroka – Wills and Probate Legal Advisor
Georgina graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2018 after completing a LLB Law Degree. In May 2018 Georgina joined the Wills and Probate team as a Legal Advisor drafting simple Wills. Georgina also provides general legal advice on Wills and probate, Lasting Powers of Attorney, property ownership and Court of Protection.
Georgina regularly attends Union events providing advice to members on the services we offer along with talks on current issues surrounding the Wills and Probate area