Unclaimed Estate - help needed to claim

kitty1801

Hi all

My husband has just found his dad listed on the bonavacantia site and we really need some advice on how to proceed.

First off, there was no will so do we need to apply for probate/letters of administration (his dad lived in London but we are in Glasgow)? Or is this unnecessary?

In order to claim, we have to provide birth certificates/marriage certificates/divorce for his dad & birth cert for himself - none of which we have. His birth (and I think his dads) were registered in Iran - is this something an embassy would help us get hold of or is there any other way to make a claim without these. Bearing in mind he was born in 1960 and his dad around 1930.

Also, his mother absconded around 1965 & not been seen since. We aren't sure if his parents were married and if they were, if they divorced.

Basically, we have none of the documents they need. All I seem to have are photos of when we visited and details of the funeral director & coroners report. Not much I know, so if anyone can point me in a direction to start in that would be very helpful & much appreciated!

xylophone

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/relationships_w/relationships_birth_certificates_and_changing_your_name_e/birth_certificates.htm#births_outside_the_uk

https://www.gov.uk/order-copy-birth-death-marriage-certificate
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/ihtmanual/ihtm12111.htm

https://www.gov.uk/copy-decree-absolute-final-order

atush

If know where he died, you can contact the local court of probate and find out what to do. Citizen's advice (or the scottish equiv) can help.

The laws of intestacy will protect your position, but I would look up the records to see if your parents were ever legally divorced, and check with your mother's family to see if she is still alive if they remained married.

Dont' panic, you have time. But do be aware that estate recovery agents may contact you and offer to act on your behalf. Will make things easier, but they will take a cut of your inheritance.

kitty1801

Thanks guys. I should have mentioned that all the paperwork relating to birth certificates/marriage/divorce would be in Iran. As my husband is now naturalised and a british citizen , the Iranian embassy will not help him and it seems unlikely that we will ever get the paperwork from them.

Also, we have no contact with the mother or her family. We believe she moved back to Iran around 1970. There is no way of tracing her - husband doesn't even know her full name or date of birth and we have tried previously to find her.

xylophone

Would the Swedish embassy help?https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/uk-for-iranians

Goldenyears

For Bona Vacantia I think this would be quite an unusual case where a living child exists, so I believe they would be very helpful where it was impossible to get your husband's birth record. Perhaps other documentation would do. Have you approached them ? They do make concessions sometimes.

atush

There must be records of his parentage somehow, given he was allowed here and became naturalised. So i'd start looking there too.

pauletruth

first if its in Bona Vacantia then the government did probate. the money is held for the next of kin.

if your dad was british but born in iran check British nationals born overseas.

findmypast has this index which you can pa as you go.

if you find the reference.
contact the following folks for advice
Telephone: +44 (0)300 123 1837

Address: Certificate Services Section
General Register Office
PO Box 2
Southport
PR8 2JD

if Iranian its doable but will be difficult.