Heir Hunters TV programme

[Nick29]

I believe that the heirs sign a contract agreeing the fees payable. 

I'm also fairly sure that you have to have a claim on the estate to ask for letters of administration.   

[kooky]

2 interesting stories this morning. Very enjoyable.
Kooky

[Redroger]

Not watched the programmes yet.  Was out last night - when I normally watch any daytime programmes I've Sky+ed and had almost 2 year old granddaughter here all day today, or else I might have watched the programmes this afternoon.

Looking forward to them.

Lizzie

They don't get any easier as they get older either Lizzie.

[deesam56]

I believe that the heirs sign a contract agreeing the fees payable. 

I'm also fairly sure that you have to have a claim on the estate to ask for letters of administration.   

so does the heir hunter have to apply for letters of administration and pay all the deceased debts etc as this seems a lot to do

[Nick29]

I believe that the heirs sign a contract agreeing the fees payable. 

I'm also fairly sure that you have to have a claim on the estate to ask for letters of administration.   

so does the heir hunter have to apply for letters of administration and pay all the deceased debts etc as this seems a lot to do

The debts will already have been paid from the estate.   As far as I'm aware, the heir hunting companies help the claimants fill in the claim forms, and the claimants sign a contract agreeing to pay a percentage of the claim to the heir hunters.  The percentage can vary according to how many man hours have been spent on the case, the number of heirs, and the size of the estate.   I have to be careful here, because Neil from F & F occasionally appears here and shoots me down in flames when I get it wrong (in the nicest possible way, of course!) 

[acorngen]

It is advised that anyone making a claim against the BV list employs their own solicitor to act as administrator because the treasury can if they see fit impose someone to do this.  I don't think it is compulsory but advised.  Also and I am sure Neil will set the record straight if I am wrong but it is also advisable that insurance is taken out on the off chance that an entitled relative comes forward at a later date after the monies have been paid.  Whilst anyone could do this job  I would say leave it to those who know what they are doing

Rob

[deesam56]

It is advised that anyone making a claim against the BV list employs their own solicitor to act as administrator because the treasury can if they see fit impose someone to do this.  I don't think it is compulsory but advised.  Also and I am sure Neil will set the record straight if I am wrong but it is also advisable that insurance is taken out on the off chance that an entitled relative comes forward at a later date after the monies have been paid.  Whilst anyone could do this job  I would say leave it to those who know what they are doing

Rob

well you say that but all probate researchers have started somewhere
I run a genealogy service which has successfully completed many family trees that larger companies have failed on, even tracing into Canada and Transportation
Just the legal side is what I am querying

[acorngen]

Surely the best place to get legal advice is going to be from a probate solicitor?  After all you dont expect Neil or any other HH company to give you that info and thus creating more competitors.  Have you seen the Heir Hunters Association website http://www.heirhunters-association.org.uk/  which may be a better place to find out.

Also how can you say that the big companies haven't been able to trace these families?  They will only trace families where there is a chance they would recover some of their costs.

[genjan1953]

Just watched Wednesday's show - "Page/Ardley" - on BBC iplayer (can't keep up!).  Excellent programme, I was riveted!  In many ways I prefer watching Heir Hunters to WDYTYA - not nearly so contrived.   I really like the way the HH programme 'fleshes out' the lives of the deceased people, who are not 'celebrities', as well as showing us the process of tracking down the relatives.  George Ardley the farmer, for example, who had an interesting trip to his own funeral on a snow plough - very amusing 

I think this series is great so far, they seem to be explaining the tracking process and what goes on in the office (at least at Fraser & Fraser!) better than in previous series'.  I'd love to do that job - all those lovely records, compiling family trees - bliss!  Ok ok I'm a romantic, it's probably hard graft, pressurised and really frustrating at times