Paying Out to Beneficiaries

Savvy_Sue

If you can find a FB or NextDoor group for that area, you could post there - might be tricky if you can't narrow it down at all, but I've seen several "does anyone know Joan Smith?" posts. It might go on "she was a friend of Dot Cotton who lived in your town until she moved away" or "Joan lived in Dot's town until she moved to your town." Depends what you know, if anything.

Or there's churches - if Dot was regularly at a particular church in her town, it's worth seeing if there's a church of the same type in Joan's town. They won't (shouldn't!) say "oh yes, we know Joan, here's her number!", but they might forward a letter, or confirm her continued existence.

There are professional tracing services, of course. They'd be a legitimate expense of the estate, but the amount may not make it worthwhile.

Ms_Chocaholic

Maybe search probate here to see if she is listed herself

https://www.gov.uk/search-will-probate

sheramber

Have you asked the other beneficiaries if they know her whereabouts? 

My cousins were traced through one of the other beneficiaries knowing they were related to my family.