Wills and probate advice for tracking down a windfall

Even if an unknown or long-lost relative has decided to make a will that does not include a person they may still be in line for a windfall, it has been advised.

However, Maurice Clarke, founder of the Heir Hunters Association, told the Daily Telegraph that it can be a difficult process to track down relatives that one is not in touch with and claim on an estate.

"Names change through the generations and often the name of the deceased means nothing at all to the beneficiaries," he said.

It was pointed out that the process will be simpler for people who are interested in genealogy who can follow their family tree back, looking at different geographical locations and names to find links with blood relatives.

After this, those interested in wills and probate matters can look at the Bona Vacantia website, which lists unclaimed estates from 1997 onwards.

The Treasury receives a person's estate if they die intestate and no relatives can be located. However, relations have as many as thirty years to claim an estate.

Publisehd by Hannah Carr