Heir Hunters

[shirclo]

Hi everyone

A friend has asked me to help him find a Heir Hunter firm as he has been appointed as the Administrator for a relative who has died Intestate.
Can anyone tell me the best way of finding a reputable company to help him?

Regards
Shirley

[groom]

Hi

Just a thought, if it is a relative who has died does he actually need an heir hunter, can he not work out who is the nearest relative entitled to inherit?

This might be worth looking at http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Death/Preparation/DG_10029802

[Nick29]

I agree.  If he is a relative himself, he should know who the closest relative is.  He shouldn't need an heir hunter to tell him who it is.

Here's the 'pecking order' for inheritance when there is no will...

http://www.northdevonwills.co.uk/intestacy.php

[clearly]

Depending on the size of the estate, an heir hunter firm will probably ask for about 30-40 percent of the money.  The way they work is to find a relative and say something like "You have been left a large chunk of money. We want 40 percent so you're getting 60 percent of something that you didn't know existed.
If this relative needs to have research done, I would suggest a reputable genealogical researcher rather than an heir hunter. A member of AGRA can be found at

http://www.agra.org.uk/members.php

This is The Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives and is the professional body for such.

Hope this helps

[FraserandFraser]

Some of this info is not correct, especially the bit about our fees, please don't just quote numbers when you don't know the facts, giving out miss-information is worse than not giving out any information. 

I am happy to talk to anyone about potential work just contact me through the Fraser and Fraser web page, drop me a message on here, or even use the email address tv AT lostkin.co.uk

there is also information about fees on the webpage. Most heir hunters will work using several different charging structures including by the hour or fixed fee. I don't know of any firm who would try to charge 40% for instructed work in the UK. I would have thought the fee using a % method would be nearer 10-15% and would only be on those unknown heirs, not heirs that are already known about, and never to the administrator.

It is always best to use a firm of "Probate Researchers" they aren't just researchers but also people who do this every day and know the law. There are very few firms who can get the other things that can help with administration, such as asset searching, will searching and insurance. It is advisable to take out "missing will insurance" and " Missing Beneficiary Indemnity" on most cases when there is no will or a will cant be found, and only professional firms can get this.
Neil Fraser

[tink.tech]

Hi
my mum  inherited some money after being contacted by a firm of heir hunters she did pay 20% plus VAT. The number beneficiaries turned out to be a large number in the 40's so they received about £700 and something pounds from a £1000. if that helps.

Don't forget the VAT!!!

Saying that she was glad to receive some money she wasn't expecting, from someone she never knew existed, added to the family tree and found a few funny family stories  that's another story
Helen

[Nick29]

The government charges the VAT, not the companies.

[FraserandFraser]

tink.tech

it would still depend on how the firm got the case if it was a direct referral then the fee may well be lower.

the fee would also only be paid by those unknown to the estate.

200 pound to prove entitlement on a family with over 40 heirs is probably about correct, I think you would all agree. The firm who started the case may not have known how many heirs there would be or even the value of the estate.

yes there would be VAT on the fee.

every case is different so it is hard to generalise about fees

[tink.tech]

Hi
Yes thanks for the comments I realize more I hadn't really mad it clear. sorry the VAT is paid to the government was just trying to pointing out it has to be paid as well.  Was just trying to give a general idea on fees based on fact but it had already been said all cases are different.

Helen.