heir hunters

madbadrob

goater78 wrote: »

I doubt it. Parents to child must be one of the easiest family relations to identify. Even if they are estranged.

Identifying the relationship is easy no matter the generation or the degree. The time taken is longer on cases that go to the 3rd or further degree.

Identyfying the family of the deceased is not the end though. We then have to locate them. If you ask not to be on the electoral roll the only way is through other means and these either cost a small fortune per year to get access to databases that the general public cant or we start knocking doors from the last known address. Believe me that can take weeks to do.

Rob

madbadrob

meritaten wrote: »

also, they do the work a solicitor would do so charging a fee is reasonable. if you signed a contract with them - then I wouldn't in all conscience advise you how to get out of it.

We dont do the work that a solicitor does in fact many solicitors use prbate genealogists to locate people in wills or where there is partial intestacy in wills and in some cases full intestacy.

We cant charge a fee for the administration of an estate because we are not recognised as a legal body such as Solicitors or accountants. We can only charge the estate with our out of pocket expenses. The commission is charged to cover the costs we expend in time. This is why some jobs will come with a higher percentage than others.

What people need to remember is we do not normally know the estate value although we can have a good guestimate of it. The average case costs in expenses around £150 which if the estate is insolvent could lead to us not recouping that never mind the hours we put in.

Once we locate a heir and get their agreement to act on their behalf to obtain the estate the work doesnt end there. We have to make sure we have found every person entitled. We have to put the claim in to the treasury we have to locate (when required) a solicitor. We have to keep the heirs informed of what is happening. At times we become a shrink for the family. Or for example taken from my files we are asked to locate the burial plot of the deceased. We reunite families that have been estranged.

Some people see us as ambulance chasers wherein we actually provide more of a service than the TV program ever shows.

Rob

docden22

thanks for the comments I should have said that there are 3 sons in total and there has been a family break down for many years both with my father and other members of the family, and for the record I only found out that there was any money yesterday and will be happy with anything, but it seems that other members are not so happy and was really asking on there behalf . :beer:

madbadrob

I think it sounds like now they know what the estate is worth they are seeing pound signs. The way I look at it is and actually one of the people I am representing in an estate worth far more than this one is "if it wasnt for probate genealogists like myself you would never have known and therefore not have a penny coming to you" The government would take the lot

Rob

NAR

If you all signed up then you have a binding contract with the heir hunters, which answers your original question.

Prothet_of_Doom

I'm amazed. If someone came and told me a 'relative' had died, and if I signed this contract I could have 3/4 of the inheritance, I'd immediately assume that we were talking a significant sum of money, so IF I choose to sign, (Which I would have a solicitor check out first), I'd be expecting them to get alot of money, because they knew something and had the ability to find out more, and I didn't. I might decide to do the work myself, but IF I did sign I'd not moan afterwards.

Knowledge has a value.

Shelldean

A friends dad was contacted by Fraser and Fraser, heir hunters. They said a relative had died but did not say who.


He signed as he felt even if it get £1 it was a £1 than he had previously.


After he had signed they disclosed the name.
It was his granddads cousin who had died, we would never have found who it was without the name.


Been about a year now and still not heard. But this was HUGE family.

madbadrob

Shell,

Have you dropped Frasers an email asking what is happening? If not and would like me to find out for you pm me the name and ill speak to Neil

Rob

madbadrob

Prothet_of_Doom wrote: »

I'm amazed. If someone came and told me a 'relative' had died, and if I signed this contract I could have 3/4 of the inheritance, I'd immediately assume that we were talking a significant sum of money, so IF I choose to sign, (Which I would have a solicitor check out first), I'd be expecting them to get alot of money, because they knew something and had the ability to find out more, and I didn't. I might decide to do the work myself, but IF I did sign I'd not moan afterwards.

Knowledge has a value.

I cant speak for other firms but I do advise all to see a solicitor before signing however the majority say no its ok. That said my agreement is written in plain English and easy for anyone to read and understand

Rob

docden22

great ''advice'' rob you see I earn 15,000 a year I keep 10000 and what's left goes to charity 2 of whom I do voluntary work for and another I raise cash for so with my 3rd of the share was going to split between them and that's why I was ''greedy'' for more, as every penny I can get for people who need it counts, this gives me great pleasure. maybe when somebody asks for help you should try to help instead of shouting your mouth off which is where you seem to get your pleasure from.