Genealogy Chat

Tracey and Tin Im sure it could be done much more easily than they are making out. I actually offered to do it for them! Got no reply - personally I think its away of notching up costs against the estate.

The point being the person was unmarried, his parents had died and by law the money is then split between the parents siblings, or if they have died, split again between the kids of those siblings.

Now clearly, the mother (our side) had 5 siblings - the father had 2 siblings.

That is 7 pieces to divide the money into - it really doesnt matter if the last person can be found or not as the money and the division remains the same! (In our case it would be a half share of one of those 7 shares). I have said this to the solicitor and he acknowledge that was true but said something about it causing additional costs - HOW?

It's a shame you don't know who the missing heir is... The search is alot easier than they try and make it on the telly!! We all know it is...bless them.

Be good if you could beat them at their own game and get to them before they do!

Tracey x

Hi Heather Posi,


I have often wondered if they 'use' online trees to track down people. 20%! I am not surprised that you said you would sort it yourself, it must be frustrating for you and I hope the missing heir is found soon!

Oh no, thats sickening, Im so choked for you.

We were contacted by genealogists 1 and half years ago - two in one day - telling us a relation had died intestate. Well, they had found me through my online tree (what a cheek, they then used a lot of it to trace people!) and they wanted 20% of the claim from each person. I told them I would sort it myself. Went to Bona Vacantia and trawled all the names looking for anyone who could be on my tree and found them.

We put in our own tree to prove we were an entitled relative we are still waiting to hear from them as the "genealogist" who appears to have managed to snag all the other beneficiaries so far apart from us - cannot find someone. I cant see why that stops the divvying out of the money to those known. I reckon the solicitors and genealogists make a bomb out of this.

For anyone that helped out with info and has been waiting ......
Well I have just had a reply from the concerned party that posted the notice.... no-one came forward to claim against a tiny part of the estate which came to light after 27 years, the treasury picked up just over £500,000!

Blimey!

They wouldn't have just sat on the money for 27 years without making enquiries.

Someone in my tree died with no known relatives in 1972. A year after the death, the Official Solicitor put a notice in the Times, and a relative came forward. They got letters of administration in 1974.

The usual claim period is 12 years, but the Official Solicitor can extend it to 30 years:

http://www.bonavacantia.gov.uk/default.asp?pageid=1307

In your case, I wonder if more assets came to light after 27 years, which is why a notice was published then?

I absolutely will.

I understand what you are saying, but if the estimated estate was to be believed (a written article in a paper) the treasury are soooooo happy!

I do hope you will come back to this thread and let us know how you get on. I do like to know the outcome of things like this, even though it may be a disappointment to you.

Elisabeth

The figure given is only an estimate, you know that right??

After inheritance tax of stupid+% and all the other charges the figure will not be as high as you think....

Tracey :)

Oh how mean, lol, It will be massive, I know that, the sum involved at the time was obscene! Gawd, curiousity killed that cat didn't it?

I'll learn....one day!

hehehehehe

At least you stand a chance of knowing how big the pain will be now!!

Tracey :)

Thanks Chrisa, thats a glimmer of hope at least, it is the same company.

Sorry to but in I just wanted to say I used to work for a Solicitor & we had to store ALL files that the partners worked on.

Also my neice changed her name by Deed Poll years ago. She couldn't find her paperwork to get her passport. The Firm was no longer in exsistence & when she spoke to the Law Society about where the files would be kept they said that all old cases from closed Law Firms were stored at thne National Archives.

So the firm that dealt with the case should still have their file if it's the same company or the National Archives should have it if it's a different firm altogether.

Many thanks Elisabeth and Tracey!

lol, that would be about right!

They might have sent the entire file back if they got nowhere, remembering back then, data isn't as freely available as it is today...

Tracey

I did ring them late this afternoon, the solicitor concerned left the business in 2004. I was passed onto someone that said she would look into it and ring me back. So fingers crossed, I would like to think they still have all the paperwork filed...somewhere

I would def recommend contacting the solicitors and asking what happened to it !!

Altho you might be setting yourself up for heartache lol....

Tracey, I am sure you are right. Well, if the rumours were to be believed the treasury rubbed their hands in glee! Blimey, this will teach me not to get side tracked!