So You Think You Have Inherited a Fortune?
Every day thousands of people around the world watch re-runs of TV Heir Hunting programs which often include details of unclaimed estates from people who died without making a will.
The program makers ask any relatives of the deceased to make a claim if they feel they may be related, but let us look at the realities of such a hope which grows in a lot of peoples minds when they see John Smith died in 2003 and left £400,000.
There are an awful lot of John Smiths and even more Smith families so chances of you being related to THIS John Smith are pretty slim if you are named Smith.
If the deceased was however called say John Pentercost-Smthye the odds are growing in your favour if you are a Pentercost-Smthye, are related to one or know someone who is.
Other problems which exist are name changes and the adding or dropping of both first and family names - John Edward Mark Thompson may prefer to be called just Mark, or even Ted and his new, shorter name make get on legal documents and confuse tracing him.
Heir Hunters, whose job it is to track down beneficiaries of intestate estates are unlikely to take on unsolicited enquires without some tangible proof you may be related to an deceased person's unclaimed estate.
In truth if you can at least give some good hope that you do have a claim a Heir Hunter will be keen to take up your case and work hard to prove your claim, earning themselves a useful commission into the bargain.
If you are a beneficiary you may not know how much of the total estate you will get, as you may bag the lot or share it with any number of others.
It could take a few months to wrap up, or take a few years if the estate is complex.
Some estates worth millions are still unclaimed and many in Australia are similarly up for grabs by legitimate heirs.
The old saying "anything is better than nothing!" is never more true that with unexpected inheritances.
To some a few thousand in the bank is a fortune, even if you have to share 10-20% with the Heir Hunter who solves the case for you.
You will never get asked for costs or expenses up front, instead get paid any dues when the estate is settled.
Many have inherited life changing fortunes from relatives they never knew they had.
There is no national or international database of unclaimed estates, each country has its own methods and laws.
Organisations such as the worldwide HHA provide links to advertised current cases which are eagerly chased after by Heir Hunters on a "no win no fee" basis.
Later if beneficiaries cannot be traced a claim may lie dormant for up to 12 years before passing to the state, who benefit substantially annually from unclaimed fortunes.
It may be worth looking up your family tree in case some of your ancestors or descendants have disappeared, they are the ones most likely to have died leaving behind not only cash assets but the dilemma of who is entitled to their fortune.
The program makers ask any relatives of the deceased to make a claim if they feel they may be related, but let us look at the realities of such a hope which grows in a lot of peoples minds when they see John Smith died in 2003 and left £400,000.
There are an awful lot of John Smiths and even more Smith families so chances of you being related to THIS John Smith are pretty slim if you are named Smith.
If the deceased was however called say John Pentercost-Smthye the odds are growing in your favour if you are a Pentercost-Smthye, are related to one or know someone who is.
Other problems which exist are name changes and the adding or dropping of both first and family names - John Edward Mark Thompson may prefer to be called just Mark, or even Ted and his new, shorter name make get on legal documents and confuse tracing him.
Heir Hunters, whose job it is to track down beneficiaries of intestate estates are unlikely to take on unsolicited enquires without some tangible proof you may be related to an deceased person's unclaimed estate.
In truth if you can at least give some good hope that you do have a claim a Heir Hunter will be keen to take up your case and work hard to prove your claim, earning themselves a useful commission into the bargain.
If you are a beneficiary you may not know how much of the total estate you will get, as you may bag the lot or share it with any number of others.
It could take a few months to wrap up, or take a few years if the estate is complex.
Some estates worth millions are still unclaimed and many in Australia are similarly up for grabs by legitimate heirs.
The old saying "anything is better than nothing!" is never more true that with unexpected inheritances.
To some a few thousand in the bank is a fortune, even if you have to share 10-20% with the Heir Hunter who solves the case for you.
You will never get asked for costs or expenses up front, instead get paid any dues when the estate is settled.
Many have inherited life changing fortunes from relatives they never knew they had.
There is no national or international database of unclaimed estates, each country has its own methods and laws.
Organisations such as the worldwide HHA provide links to advertised current cases which are eagerly chased after by Heir Hunters on a "no win no fee" basis.
Later if beneficiaries cannot be traced a claim may lie dormant for up to 12 years before passing to the state, who benefit substantially annually from unclaimed fortunes.
It may be worth looking up your family tree in case some of your ancestors or descendants have disappeared, they are the ones most likely to have died leaving behind not only cash assets but the dilemma of who is entitled to their fortune.
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