Genealogy Chat

Hi All,

Don't know if anyone can help, tried googling to no avail.

Why would it take some 27 years (from the year of death) for a notice to be published by a solicitor asking for anyone who has a claim to an estate to come forward? Isn' this an especially long time?

I'm in a state of shock having just found the published estate claim.

Many thanks

TF

Perhaps funds in dormant accounts, or property, have just been found.

These things do happen if someone has died in unusual circumstances.

Elisabeth

Thanks Elisabeth,

There were a lot of questions surrounding the death.

It all sounds intriguing. I would love to know the outcome of your enquiry!

Let us hope you have a windfall.

Elisabeth

lol, will do, think it might be a bit late though!

Thanks again

There is a legal 30 year limit on all claims...

Depending on the Treasury, it's possible to make a claim upto 30 years after someone has died without a will. After the 30 year period all monies goes to the treasury.

This Solicitor is probably climbing the 'Genealogy' bandwagon and using the lists the Government publish every week for those who die without wills and unknown heirs...

Hope this helps a little.

Tracey

Tracey,

I didn't know about the 30 year rule, but with the Bona Vacantia list out each week, there must be lots that never get solved and distributed, and perhaps the 'heir hunters' revisit various ones from time to time.

Elisabeth

Hi Tracey,

Sorry, I didn't explain very well, just a little disturbed that 27 years had passed, the notice was published in 2001, I have only just found it!

??? 2001 to 2008 is not 27 years?

The treasury sit on the money for along time. I think the estimate is 5 Billion a year. of which only about 1.5 Billion is claimed....

Thats a lot of money to sit on for all that time.... they must be itching to get their hands on it!!

...oh and the interest is payable too for the entire time the money is unclaimed...

Tracey

Oooh gawd, you can tell I am still in shock, seeing it in print,
the death was 1974, the notice published in 2001 and I just found it late this afternoon. Think I need more tea!

So after 34 years, the treasury have it, to be honest I had a feeling there was something about 30 years, but I was told that there was no estate.... more curious who stepped forward? And why on earth it took the solicitor 27 years to enquire about anyone having a claim against the estate.

I take it your a relative then?

Sadly when it's this late in the day the original material goods are liquidated and added to the remaining estate.

Early claim is always essential to preserve the value of the estate, the material things left behind tend to be sold for alot less than their true worth...

Tracey

Once an estate is claimed you can get details of who and how much.

Sadly after 34 years the treasury have your money, depending on how much it was...the high note is if they cannot find the missing heirs the monies are devided between the ones left ....

I have often thought about scouring the lists and seeing if i know anyone... then think i'm not sur ei know anyone rich enough.... but i suppose thats the whole point of the lists, missing family members with hidden wealth.

Tracey

Yes, I am. I was more curious who came forward and why on earth it took the solicitor 27 years to enquire for anyone having a claim?

Always wondered what happened to the personal belongings?

God, how very sad...

Many thanks to you!

Funnily enough I was looking for gallantry entries and just thought I would pop the concerned name in.

Just goes to show, you never know.

All possessions will have been liquidated especially if they hadn't found anyone after 27 years.... it maybe no-one took up the case originally nd the solicitors were tasked by the treasury to find those about to hit the deadline!

Tracey

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!

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

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

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