GERMAN HEIR HUNTERS

jiggsy155

Good afternoon all,

I have been contacted by a German heir hunt company to inform me that my uncle, who lived in Germany

had died 3yrs ago and had not left a will.

the next living descendant to him was my brother, who at the time of my uncles passing was alive.

Sadly my brother died in 2019 leaving no will. (he never married or had any children)

I am now being asked by the German heir hunter to obtain certificate of inheritance after my brother.

I presume this means Probate?

Where do i start from?

Many thanks 

Jiggsy

sassyblue

Are these people legitimate? Do they have a proper website?

naedanger

jiggsy155 said:

Good afternoon all,

I have been contacted by a German heir hunt company to inform me that my uncle, who lived in Germany

had died 3yrs ago and had not left a will.

the next living descendant to him was my brother, who at the time of my uncles passing was alive.

Sadly my brother died in 2019 leaving no will. (he never married or had any children)

I am now being asked by the German heir hunter to obtain certificate of inheritance after my brother.

I presume this means Probate?

Where do i start from?

Many thanks 

Jiggsy

Is your brother a full brother? If so, how come you are only being regarded as a beneficiary after your brother? I would have thought you would inherit in your own right half of your uncle's estate. So I would be seeking that payment before then considering your late brother's share.

jiggsy155

sassyblue said:

Are these people legitimate? Do they have a proper website?

yes, they have a proper website and are legitimate.

Grumpelstiltskin

naedanger said:

jiggsy155 said:

Good afternoon all,

I have been contacted by a German heir hunt company to inform me that my uncle, who lived in Germany

had died 3yrs ago and had not left a will.

the next living descendant to him was my brother, who at the time of my uncles passing was alive.

Sadly my brother died in 2019 leaving no will. (he never married or had any children)

I am now being asked by the German heir hunter to obtain certificate of inheritance after my brother.

I presume this means Probate?

Where do i start from?

Many thanks 

Jiggsy

Is your brother a full brother? If so, how come you are only being regarded as a beneficiary after your brother? I would have thought you would inherit in your own right half of your uncle's estate. So I would be seeking that payment before then considering your late brother's share.

Remember German law will apply here so probably different to English law.

jiggsy155

naedanger said:

jiggsy155 said:

Good afternoon all,

I have been contacted by a German heir hunt company to inform me that my uncle, who lived in Germany

had died 3yrs ago and had not left a will.

the next living descendant to him was my brother, who at the time of my uncles passing was alive.

Sadly my brother died in 2019 leaving no will. (he never married or had any children)

I am now being asked by the German heir hunter to obtain certificate of inheritance after my brother.

I presume this means Probate?

Where do i start from?

Many thanks 

Jiggsy

Is your brother a full brother? If so, how come you are only being regarded as a beneficiary after your brother? I would have thought you would inherit in your own right half of your uncle's estate. So I would be seeking that payment before then considering your late brother's share.

yes, my brother was a full brother.
I have just re read the email i got from the German heir hunter and it appears i will inherit half in my own right, i dont
know if they are just wanting to see if i can prove that i should get it all.

naedanger

jiggsy155 said:

naedanger said:

jiggsy155 said:

Good afternoon all,

I have been contacted by a German heir hunt company to inform me that my uncle, who lived in Germany

had died 3yrs ago and had not left a will.

the next living descendant to him was my brother, who at the time of my uncles passing was alive.

Sadly my brother died in 2019 leaving no will. (he never married or had any children)

I am now being asked by the German heir hunter to obtain certificate of inheritance after my brother.

I presume this means Probate?

Where do i start from?

Many thanks 

Jiggsy

Is your brother a full brother? If so, how come you are only being regarded as a beneficiary after your brother? I would have thought you would inherit in your own right half of your uncle's estate. So I would be seeking that payment before then considering your late brother's share.

yes, my brother was a full brother.
I have just re read the email i got from the German heir hunter and it appears i will inherit half in my own right, i dont
know if they are just wanting to see if i can prove that i should get it all.

That makes more sense, and yes it sounds like they are just wanting to see if you can prove you should get it all.

In your position I would give them a call to explain there is no such thing as a certificate of inheritance. If you did inherit anything from your late brother (other than simple possessions) then explain what evidence you supplied to gain access to his assets. Of course they may well insist on probate.

jiggsy155

naedanger said:

jiggsy155 said:

naedanger said:

jiggsy155 said:

Good afternoon all,

I have been contacted by a German heir hunt company to inform me that my uncle, who lived in Germany

had died 3yrs ago and had not left a will.

the next living descendant to him was my brother, who at the time of my uncles passing was alive.

Sadly my brother died in 2019 leaving no will. (he never married or had any children)

I am now being asked by the German heir hunter to obtain certificate of inheritance after my brother.

I presume this means Probate?

Where do i start from?

Many thanks 

Jiggsy

Is your brother a full brother? If so, how come you are only being regarded as a beneficiary after your brother? I would have thought you would inherit in your own right half of your uncle's estate. So I would be seeking that payment before then considering your late brother's share.

yes, my brother was a full brother.
I have just re read the email i got from the German heir hunter and it appears i will inherit half in my own right, i dont
know if they are just wanting to see if i can prove that i should get it all.

That makes more sense, and yes it sounds like they are just wanting to see if you can prove you should get it all.

In your position I would give them a call to explain there is no such thing as a certificate of inheritance. If you did inherit anything from your late brother (other than simple possessions) then explain what evidence you supplied to gain access to his assets. Of course they may well insist on probate.

Many thanks for the advice.
do you think i need to get a solicitor involved to maybe send they a letter?

naedanger

jiggsy155 said:

naedanger said:

jiggsy155 said:

naedanger said:

jiggsy155 said:

Good afternoon all,

I have been contacted by a German heir hunt company to inform me that my uncle, who lived in Germany

had died 3yrs ago and had not left a will.

the next living descendant to him was my brother, who at the time of my uncles passing was alive.

Sadly my brother died in 2019 leaving no will. (he never married or had any children)

I am now being asked by the German heir hunter to obtain certificate of inheritance after my brother.

I presume this means Probate?

Where do i start from?

Many thanks 

Jiggsy

Is your brother a full brother? If so, how come you are only being regarded as a beneficiary after your brother? I would have thought you would inherit in your own right half of your uncle's estate. So I would be seeking that payment before then considering your late brother's share.

yes, my brother was a full brother.
I have just re read the email i got from the German heir hunter and it appears i will inherit half in my own right, i dont
know if they are just wanting to see if i can prove that i should get it all.

That makes more sense, and yes it sounds like they are just wanting to see if you can prove you should get it all.

In your position I would give them a call to explain there is no such thing as a certificate of inheritance. If you did inherit anything from your late brother (other than simple possessions) then explain what evidence you supplied to gain access to his assets. Of course they may well insist on probate.

Many thanks for the advice.
do you think i need to get a solicitor involved to maybe send they a letter?

No, not at this stage. You are just asking for clarification of what they want. Once you have more information then you can decide what steps to take.

jiggsy155

ok, will contact them in the morning.

jiggsy155

right, i emailed the German heir hunters to ask roughly how much the estate was worth but have not heard back.
I spoke to a solicitor who said that i would need Letters of Administration to prove that i am next in line after my brother.
Obviously the solicitor will want the work at £320 per hr!
does anyone know a reasonable place to use?
many thanks.