There are currently* more than 6000 UK unclaimed estates in the UK. Could you be an heir to an unclaimed estate of an estranged relative or perhaps someone you’ve lost touch with.
In the UK an Unclaimed Estate is dealt with by a department of the government known as the Treasury Solicitors Office. An unclaimed estate or unclaimed inheritance occurs when someone dies intestate, or to put simply, without a will. This can also happen when an old will is in place and the person’s intended beneficiaries have passed away.
How long are unclaimed estates held?
In the United Kingdom, an estate can go unclaimed generally for 12 years. However, an estate can be claimed for up to 30 years if proof and proper documentation can be produced. So this really could be worth your while checking out. There are numerous ways to start your search, your first port of call should be the Heir Hunters list of unclaimed estates and use our quick search tool which allows you to add the surname of the individual along with the place of birth or death if known and you will receive all results relating to that name, or you can view the entire list on the Government website.
What happens to unclaimed estates?
If an estate remains unclaimed for more than 30 years and the rightful beneficiaries aren’t found in this time then the estate and its entire value goes to the crown this is called Bona Vacantia.
How can I check if I am eligible for an unclaimed estate?
The main rules are: if there’s no will in place, the deceased individual’s spouse or civil partner will be first in line to inherit, if no spouse is present then any children will be able to claim the estate. In the event that there is no spouse of a child, individuals that descend from a grandparent of the deceased are entitled to the estate.
So if you find out there is an unclaimed estate in your blood-line, it is best to see if you are eligible before diving any further into it.
If you’re adopted:
- you will have the same rights as a child born directly to your adoptive family
- you will have no rights to an estate of your original birth family should you still be in contact with them
Only the adoptive family has rights to the estate if the deceased person was adopted.
How to find an unclaimed estate
The Government Legal Department regularly advertises in search of relatives that may be entitled to unclaimed estates. If you reply to an advert, you will need to prove your relationship is legitiamate with the deceased individual, for example with a birth, marriage or death certificate.
Your local authority can also be a good place to start if you spot unclaimed estate when searching council records and it is from a member of your family. Again, you must prove your relationship with the deceased in order to do this.
There are many internet resources that can also be very useful when it comes to finding an unclaimed estate within your family. The best places to check are official government resources. If you do find you have an unclaimed estate, it may also be helpful to seek some legal advice before proceeding any further.
How do you claim for unclaimed estates?
So you’ve found out that there is in fact an unclaimed estate in your family and you’re at the point where you are looking to claim it. But you’re a little stuck on how to proceed, which is understandable because this can be a tricky field in which to navigate.
How to claim:
- Check if the estate of the deceased is listed with the Crown
- Check that you are an legitimately entitled relative
- Make a claim on the estate
To make a claim on the estate you must prove that you are a relative of the deceased, which would make you entitled to a share of the estate. Then you must contact the government legal department in order to get the ball-rolling with your claim.
If you think you may have found an estate to claim or need help finding an estate, request a call back or fill in our enquiry form and a member of our team will be happy to help.
*Figure based on UK unclaimed estate list December 2022