Dying intestate

Jibergurt

A bit of a (possibly) hypothetical question. If I had lost contact with my father 30 odd years ago, and he had gone on to have other children, if he died intestate how would I be able to find out he'd died? Also how would anyone know to contact me to distribute his estate? I have seen 'Heir Hunters' but what if, for example, his second family knew he'd died but didn't mention me (oldest child) to whomever was distributing his assets?  

naedanger

Jibergurt said:

A bit of a (possibly) hypothetical question. If I had lost contact with my father 30 odd years ago, and he had gone on to have other children, if he died intestate how would I be able to find out he'd died? Also how would anyone know to contact me to distribute his estate? I have seen 'Heir Hunters' but what if, for example, his second family knew he'd died but didn't mention me (oldest child) to whomever was distributing his assets?  

Sorry, I don't know how you would find out if an estranged relative had died. I am sure an heir hunting company would help for a fee but don't know how you would do it yourself.

It would be the executor's job to track you down. I believe there are companies that will help to locate people. (But if you are very low profile, or in hiding, you might not be found.)

If the executor was not told of your existence then you might miss out. It does happen.

Executors can insure against the risk of other unknown beneficiaries coming forward, and one of the first conditions the insurer will require is that the executor (or anyone under their control) stop looking!

JGB1955

You can find out if he's died by searching for a death certificate...

RAS

If you looked at your parents' marriage certificate, you'll find his rough age, occupation, address at the time and the name and occupation of his father. If these are correct, you may be able to find his birth from www.gro.gov.uk.

Once you know his date of birth, it is easier to find any appropriate death certificate in the same place. Wills are available from the probate registry. Bono vacantia estates are also listed on the gov.uk website.

Also use one of the genealogy websites ( local library) and 192.com to look at the electoral roll.

Depending on how common his name is, you may be able to trace him.

TBagpuss

As others have said, you can search for a death certificate, and can also google to look for death notices and obituaries. 
Similarly, his administrator would normally be expected to try to identify any family - in most cases an administrator would be a family member so would possibly already know you existed, and that they had a duty to try to locate you,