For genealogists and international probate researchers, a core element of their work is finding missing beneficiaries to unclaimed estates.
You would imagine in today’s inter-connected world that it would be impossible for someone to ‘disappear’. After all, many people now have a social media presence or leave some sort of digital footprint.
Unfortunately for people trying to find loved ones or solicitors looking for beneficiaries to an estate, people can and do disappear. This is particularly true of elderly people and those displaced by war or natural disasters.
It is solving these types of mysteries that genealogists and international probate researchers, colloquially referred to as ‘heir hunters’, excel in. By utilising expert knowledge and international connections, they assist lawyers, individuals and public bodies to find missing beneficiaries.
One recent example is that of a Surrey woman who passed away without making a will. A firm of solicitors was approached by a cousin once removed of the deceased to administer the estate. She believed herself to be the closest living relative and therefore entitled to claim on the estate.
The solicitor invested his own time into researching the family and this led him to believe that he had identified more cousins that would be entitled to inherit the estate along with his client.
The case was referred to Fraser & Fraser.
We did an initial free assessment, involving the appraisal of existing family tree information. Our recommendation was that more research should be carried out into several branches of the family as there were inconsistent facts.
The solicitor duly instructed our research team and they uncovered surprises that drastically changed the course of events. Through a combination of illegitimate birth and informal adoption, the shape of the family tree had altered dramatically. We identified and located new rightful heirs in place of those individuals previously found, who were not entitled to inherit.
Finding missing beneficiaries – the research process
To find a missing beneficiary, probate researchers use a multi-faceted approach. This includes:
- making local enquiries, visiting family members face to face, conducting searches in libraries and archive offices
- searching through birth, death and marriage records
- using historic family trees to trace individuals
- searching through online archives
Established genealogists and international probate research firms also have their own extensive archives, historical records and in-house libraries.
Searching for missing beneficiaries internationally
Many searches for missing beneficiaries have an international element. We now live in a global society; people moving for work and lifestyle is a common occurrence. Divorce is also on the rise, making name changes more frequent; a factor that can further complicate the process of searching for a missing beneficiary.
Searches for people who lived in areas affected by natural disasters and wars can be especially tricky. For example, anyone trying to trace their Irish family tree faces considerable difficulty due to the catastrophic loss of almost all census records from 1821 to 1891. The census records for 1821, 1831, 1841 and 1851 were stored at the Four Courts in Dublin and were destroyed by fire in 1922 during the Civil War. Also lost was a large portion of Church of Ireland parish records and most Wills. Further, the census returns of 1861, 1871, 1881 and 1891 were pulped by government order to support the 1914 – 18 war effort.
Probate researchers can overcome these frustrations by having agents and strategic partners on the ground in countries. They speak the local language and understand how public and private records are stored; forming relationships with archivists to obtain access and information on a level generally unavailable to the public.
Experienced, professional heir hunters will assign a Case Manager to each investigation. This allows clients, be they solicitors, private individuals or public sector to have one point of contact. The Case Manager can liaise directly with international partners and agents, significantly improving the chance of successfully finding missing beneficiaries.
Missing Beneficiaries’ Insurance
Once the research has been undertaken, beneficiaries will either be found, and the estate will be distributed, or it will fall to the Crown. To protect themselves from beneficiary claims who may make themselves known after the estate has been dispersed, executors, administrators and beneficiaries can take out Missing Beneficiaries’ Insurance. This covers all eventualities, such as unknown or untraced heirs coming forward in the future, including illegitimate descendants or family members who have immigrated to countries with limited records.
In summary
Finding missing beneficiaries is a job best left to the experts. Tracing family lines and finding the missing can be a complex process, involving research and knowledge of many jurisdictions.
By engaging an experienced, well-resourced genealogist and international probate research firm, solicitors, local bodies and private clients will have the best chance of successfully distributing an estate.
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