Global travel and immigration are increasingly common. As a result, extended families often spread across the world. Over decades, some family branches inevitably lose touch. But moving abroad isn’t the only reason families lose communication. Divorce, separation, and general family splits also contribute. Blended families, with step-children, add further complexity. Adoption and co-habitation also complicate family tree research. Because of these factors, many families and solicitors now turn to a professional genealogist to locate potential beneficiaries of a statutory Will.
Why You Need a Professional Genealogist for a Will
A professional genealogist is not only called in when someone with a statutory Will dies. Many legal reasons often require their expertise concerning Wills. For instance, a Will might name an unknown individual. The family’s solicitor then needs help locating that person to give them their rightful share of the estate.
Another reason might be that a family lost touch a generation ago. No one then knows where the beneficiaries are. Equally difficult is a death without a Will and no apparent next of kin. The latter scenario, in fact, demands extensive research. Initially, there isn’t much information to guide the search. So, what tools does a genealogist with limited initial information employ?
Tools a Professional Genealogist Uses to Find a Missing Beneficiary
A professional genealogist speaks with the deceased’s family and friends. They also examine various public records to locate an individual. These include:
- The electoral register (past and present)
- Birth, marriage, and death records
- Credit reference databases
- Consumer databases
- Other genealogical datasets, such as parish records, prison records, land tax and stamp duty records, and divorce records.
The Electoral Register
In the UK, everyone must legally provide their name, address, National Insurance number, nationality, and age for the electoral register. Published annually, the Register is updated monthly. You can usually find it in public libraries. The police, courts, and local authorities also receive a copy. Credit reference agencies buy the Register. This allows lenders to check credit applications and verify identities, preventing money laundering.
Marketing firms, charities, and businesses can buy a copy of the Open Register. This contains the same information as the electoral register. However, individuals can ask to remove their personal details from this version. You can learn more about electoral registers on the UK government’s website. [Outbound link: https://www.gov.uk/electoral-register/view-electoral-register]
Birth, Marriage, and Death Records
Civil Registration records include births, marriages, and deaths. You can find these by contacting the General Register Office (GRO) for the country where the individual you are searching for lived. Records for England and Wales date back to July 1837. In Scotland, registration began later, in 1855. You can also find records for civil partnerships and adopted children at the GRO.
Credit Reference Databases
These databases hold consumer and business information. They gather data from public records, like the electoral register, court judgments (CCJs), and financial details from lenders and utility suppliers. These provide valuable clues for a professional genealogist.
Consumer Databases
A consumer database contains purchase information, demographics, and often contact details. Consumers frequently and unknowingly provide this information through social media, purchases, marketing campaigns, and online Browse.
Get In Touch with a Professional Genealogist
If you need help locating an individual, contact us at Fleetwood Heir Hunters. Call us on 020 8970 7486 or email the team at info@fleetwoodheirhunters.co.uk. Our professional genealogists are ready to assist you.