An East Kilbride family are trying to trace the executor of their mum’s estate after she passed away from cancer just months after being diagnosed.
Laura Reid’s mum, Ann Grant from West Mains, who worked as a home carer for South Lanarkshire Council for nearly two decades died in June after being diagnosed with lung cancer in February aged just 63.
But now Ann’s family need to find the lawyer named as executor so her pension can be settled in what has already been a heartbreaking time for her loved ones.
The lawyer is a Mr Raymond Farrell – also down as Raymond Thomas William Farrell – and he practised at 6 Princes Mall, upstairs next to the old Bon Marche shop.
His practice was Messrs. Ballantyne & Copland Solicitors – who also had a branch in Motherwell – although the legal firm wound-up in 2012.
Laura told the East Kilbride News: “We sadly lost my mum from a very short battle from cancer which was devastating for us all.
“She was a home carer in the community for the council and everyone was shocked by her passing, given the current circumstances some didn’t even know she was ill.
“As it was such a short battle she had not updated her will and it was decades old.
“Myself and my sister were children at the time and we need the lawyer named as executor to authorise it to be changed or submit a copy of a death certificate to the pensions department to prove he is deceased. That way it can be signed over to our step-dad who is now executor.
“We need help to find him and have went down the legal route and to no avail being told we need to find him ourselves now.
“In all honesty we are at a loss and not sure where to go next. We have tried to search but so many Raymond Farrells come up, some even in America."
Laura said her mum’s illness came as a tremendous shock to all of the family and her sudden decline in health meant usually fastidious Ann was unable to update her will.
“Things have been difficult as it is and I was really surprised that the will hadn’t been changed – mum was so organised,” said Laura.
“But I think she was just too ill at the end and my step-dad and the rest of us were trying to cope with so much that it was overlooked.
“Mum passed away in Kilbryde Hospice and in the last few weeks wasn’t coherent. She died of lung cancer even although she had never smoked a day in her life."
Laura added: “Mum was the driving force behind a lot and it’s only now I have it in me to try and get this sorted once and for all. We are in total limbo until it is.”
Laura and her family are asking anyone who knew the lawyer in question or the practice and may have an idea of his whereabouts to get in touch.
Anyone with any information can contact nicola.findlay@reachplc.com and details will be passed on.
