Deceased Share owner dies..Who gets the shares? (Procedure? there is a WILL)

When a deceased shares and Stocks owner dies? who gets entitlement to all stocks an shares?

Does Will executor automatically get them?

When a person passes away and leaves behind some shares in such companies:

* Prudential
* Dragon Oil
* Transco
* Shell Oil
* Other companies perhaps, which is unknown at this stage? (see question 3 below)

Their widowed spouse is the executor on the will.

when this share owner dies, do they automatically get passed on to their widowed spouse

1) Will the widow executor get entitlement to all the shares?

2) What is the procedure to go ahead to get all shares from each company, in the name of the widow spouse, who is the executor of the will?

3) How can it be found out the Total shares, from every company that the deceased owned?

Is there one website/ or 1 specific company where you can get this information from?

eg if the share owner had shares spreadout between any additional companies, how can this be found out?

4) Would a legal representative/service (solicitors) needed to be used for this request? or it can be done by the widow theirself?


5) Any other advice?

Would be appreciated answers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 during this emotional issue
.
Thanks