Tracing missing relative

JulieM

A friend in Australia has asked if I can help regarding an elderly aunt who he hasn't received a Christmas card from. All he has is her name and an address in Welwyn and no other contact details. On checking Rightmove I can see that her house was sold last November so it's possible she has gone into care or may have died. How would he go about making enquiries?

Robin9

Salvation Army  

Grumpelstiltskin

You can look for her name on here, if she has died it could be on here.

Search probate records for documents and wills (England and Wales) - GOV.UK

Also google her name plus Welwyn you might just find a death notice online.

RAS

If the property has been sold, either aunt chose to sell, or it was sold by an executor/administrator, or she lacked capacity and someone else managed her affairs.

Search "find-someones-attorney-deputy-or-guardian" on the gov.uk website. The form can be completed by mail, email or even DX. No cost.

GRO registers on deaths only goes as far as 2023, but probate cases for 2024 are available at the Probate Registry for a small fee, again gov.uk. For deaths after 2023, the local registry office might advise and a copy would indicate who registered the death? 

Beyond that, are there any other living relatives the Australian knows about, and do they have a DoB? Or try putting aunt's name and address into Ancestry library edition (check which local ones offer it). That might link to a birth certificate etc.

BrilliantButScary

Grumpelstiltskin said:

You can look for her name on here, if she has died it could be on here.

Search probate records for documents and wills (England and Wales) - GOV.UK

Also google her name plus Welwyn you might just find a death notice online.

https://www.whtimes.co.uk/memorials/
Try looking on here.

DairyQueen

ancestry.co.uk has an index of 2024 deaths online.

thegreenone

Could you contact the estate agent who sold the property and ask them to forward an email to the lady or her POA or Executor?

RAS

DairyQueen said:

ancestry.co.uk has an index of 2024 deaths online.

That's great. The one I usually access only goes up to 2007 for English and Welsh record. Can you explain how to find the later information?