Heir hunting

AB77

Hi,
Hope someone can help me please.
I have been contacted by an heir hunter and advised that an "unnamed" person has died without a will. This "unnamed" person has a family tree connection with my great-uncle who who died a few years ago. I was the executor for my great-uncle which is how the heir hunter has got my details.

I am trying to understand a scenario where the the estate of the "unnamed" person would be passed down to my great-uncle's estate. Can someone please help me? I assume that the "unnamed" person would have to have died before my great-uncle otherwise I can't see how it could be passed down.

I have checked the government unclaimed estate list and can't see any obvious names on there that would be the link, but understand that would have been a very slim chance of finding the person without a lot of investigation.

Many thanks.

Yorkshireman99

AB77 wrote: »

Hi,
Hope someone can help me please.
I have been contacted by an heir hunter and advised that an "unnamed" person has died without a will. This "unnamed" person has a family tree connection with my great-uncle who who died a few years ago. I was the executor for my great-uncle which is how the heir hunter has got my details.

I am trying to understand a scenario where the the estate of the "unnamed" person would be passed down to my great-uncle's estate. Can someone please help me? I assume that the "unnamed" person would have to have died before my great-uncle otherwise I can't see how it could be passed down.

I have checked the government unclaimed estate list and can't see any obvious names on there that would be the link, but understand that would have been a very slim chance of finding the person without a lot of investigation.

Many thanks.

This site shows the chain of succesion when there is no will i.e. intestacy.

https://www.gov.uk/inherits-someone-dies-without-will

What has probably happened is that the heir hunter has traced the sucession to you using information from your great-uncle. The chances of you fining it yourself are slim. I would go with them.

Crabapple

The most distant relative who can inherit under inrestacy is a first cousin or their descendants.

So one of your great-uncles first cousins or a first cousin to one or other of his parents.

AB77

Many thanks for replying.

I've just followed your link.

So if, for example, my great-uncle had an unknown half brother, the half-brother's estate would be passed to my great-uncle. As my great-uncle is now also dead, does the half-brother's estate get distributed in the same proportion as my great-uncle's?

Thanks again

Yorkshireman99

AB77 wrote: »

Many thanks for replying.

I've just followed your link.

So if, for example, my great-uncle had an unknown half brother, the half-brother's estate would be passed to my great-uncle. As my great-uncle is now also dead, does the half-brother's estate get distributed in the same proportion as my great-uncle's?

Thanks again

You are missing the point. Just because the heir hunter tracked you down via your connection with your great uncle does not mean that the estate they are investigating has any connection with him.

AB77

Apologies, I'm being a bit slow in understanding this.

If the estate under investigation has nothing to do with my great-uncle, then who and why have they come to me (his executor)?

I am most likely going to go with the heir hunter but just wanted to try and get a better understanding before I meet up with them and presumably encouraged to sign a contract.

Yorkshireman99

AB77 wrote: »

Apologies, I'm being a bit slow in understanding this.

If the estate under investigation has nothing to do with my great-uncle, then who and why have they come to me (his executor)?

I am most likely going to go with the heir hunter but just wanted to try and get a better understanding before I meet up with them and presumably encouraged to sign a contract.

What was trying to say was that they may have located you by looking at the will and followed up from there. Heir hunters use all sorts of sources to track people down. I am sure they will tell you more in due course.

Margot123

Have they actually said that you are due anything from the estate?

If not, perhaps you should charge a fee for doing their research for them.

Yorkshireman99

Margot123 wrote: »

Have they actually said that you are due anything from the estate?

If not, perhaps you should charge a fee for doing their research for them.

A bit optimistic! Nevertheless they should have told the OP.

suej102

Hi - I recently became aware that a distant relative may have died interstate (he did) and began researching the family tree and then contacting BV estates to claim on behalf of my Mother & any other living relatives known to us. Unfortunately an heir hunter has since also been in touch with my uncle and cousin and is pressuring them to sign up as they have been told they need to return the forms etc within 6 weeks. I have explained to these family members that I am managing this on behalf of everyone and they don't need to risk losing up to 30% of any claim, but my uncle in particular who is elderly, very anxious and not particularity bright has just told me he has sent these forms back with his birth certificate. I'm stunned that he has done this but he doesn't really understand so I am now worried that the heir hunters will fast track this and all of my hard work (I have almost everything ready to submit and have just been in touch with the BV to explain all of this), however I am waiting on 5 certificates that are due to be sent out from GRO on 30th July. I have a solicitor taking care of verifying all of the documents as true copies etc and have already evidenced my Mother's link to the deceased (1st Cousin). My question is, how quickly will the Heir Hunters move on this and are they able to fast-track the process - I would imagine my complete claim will be ready very early August but I am worried that my uncle may sign something before then which will reduce the amount of any claim? :mad::cool:

Flugelhorn

Hi - there are some answers on other thread. Don't worry any fees will only come out of the share of the person who uses the heir hunters. There are years in which to claim on this