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Research

Fraser and Fraser provide specialist research to the legal professions by tracing missing heirs and beneficiaries to unclaimed estates worldwide.

With over 90 years of experience, we have built up a network of European offices and developed partnerships and working relationships with professional genealogists around the world.
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arrow10x18 EXPLORE

 

Find Missing Beneficiaries

All cases of locating missing beneficiaries are unique and in order to ensure all bases are covered. There is a research process that needs to be followed, which can involve:

Local Enquiries

Local Enquiries

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Our friendly and experienced team of Senior Travelling Researchers visit heirs and other family members face-to-face. They also conduct research from official records and in libraries.
Probate Research Technology

Probate Research Technology

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We use custom-made technology and a variety of online archives for genealogical research.
Birth, Death and Marriage Index

Birth, Death and Marriage Index

03
We have our own copy of these vital records to help build up family trees.
People Finding Software

People Finding Software

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We use a number of different programs and software to help us complete our research.
Historical Family Trees

Historical Family Trees

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Our years of experience means we have a huge collection of family trees, dating back to the 1960s.
International Partnership

International Partnership

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We have worked with a number of overseas partners for years, who have helped support our research in countries across the globe.
In House Library

In House Library

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We have a diverse collection of historical records and electoral rolls.
Global Coverage

Global Coverage

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We have offices around the world including France, Poland, and Italy

 

Our Fee Options
Time Spent

When information is already known we can offer research on a time spent basis. This offers an easy way to monitor the costs incurred by the estate and can help cut costs. What are the Costs

Fixed Fee

Here the fee is agreed according to the perceived difficulty of the research required based on the information the client has. No payment is required if the research is incomplete at the end of the agreed time frame. What are the Costs

Beneficiary Contingency

Suitable for intestacy where there are no known heirs and therefore, no administrator. The fee is paid through an agreement with the beneficiaries we trace – once the estate is distributed, the ‘fee’ is a share of their entitlement. Known heirs are protected from having to pay to find unknown beneficiaries. What are the Costs

Finder’s Fee Contingency

When there is a formal instruction to deal with the Estate or Trust, we can be instructed to find unknown heirs who are entitled in addition to those already identified. Our fee is paid through an agreement with the Personal Representative or Executor – the “fee” being a share of the entitlement of any heirs identified, and is paid when the estate is distributed. What are the Costs

 

Will Search Service
Will Search Service

Fraser and Fraser’s Will Search has stopped over 3% of cases being wrongly administered, after locating a Will on estates believed to be intestate. We are able to help discover whether a valid Will exists before the estate is distributed. To help avoid an estate being incorrectly distributed and ensure all eventualities are covered, allows you to follow best practice.

Offering a thorough search for both registered and unregistered wills in the UK, using methods such as:

  • Check Probate Registry safe custody clerk
  • Certainty Will Search (REACH, National Wills Register, Missing Will Notice Board)
  • Contacting Will Writers (Members of the Institute of Professional Will Writers and
    Society of Will Writers)
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