Heir Hunters - Treethorpe

[danuslave]

I have been contacted by a firm of heir hunters, Treethorpe Ltd. Does anyone know anything (good or bad) about them?

[Girl Guide]

I assume you have been contacted by them as they are investigating an estate which had no direct heirs.  Did they give any indication as to why they contacted you or whose estate they were investigating?

They appear to have good reviews which appear on their website.  You have to remember of course that these companies take a chunk of whatever is available.  There is no clue from their fees section as to what they actually charge, it's all suitably bland and vague.

https://treethorpe.com/fees-and-commissions/

In theory you could do your own research, depends on whether the name means anything and what the value of the estate is.  If you know the name and when this person died you could check the Bona Vacantia website to see if the name is there.

This is information about unclaimed estates from the UK Govt.

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/unclaimed-estates-list

Up to you whether you take this any further.

[guest189040]

As suggested, check the Bona Vacanta website, but do go back a couple of years if you find no recognisable surname on your first go.

Then, if you have not already done so I would make a stab at expanding your tree sideways so you have all distant Cousins, 2nd Cousins etc.

If you then still cannot make a connection go with the Heir Hunters but do negotiate fees.

I presume that you will have to provide certificates to show your valid relationship to the deceased and these could mount up to a fair amount which is why the Heir Hunters may be a reasonable option.

[danuslave]

Thanks for these responses.  All they have told me so far is that the estate belonged to someone related to my paternal grandparents.  As my grandfather had 9 siblings who lived to adulthood I could have my work cut out trying to wade through them all!

I think I will see what else they have to say, and not sign anything without reading the small print very carefully!

Watch this space

[groom]

Thanks for these responses.  All they have told me so far is that the estate belonged to someone related to my paternal grandparents.  As my grandfather had 9 siblings who lived to adulthood I could have my work cut out trying to wade through them all!

I think I will see what else they have to say, and not sign anything without reading the small print very carefully!

Watch this space

In that case as well there could be a lot of heirs, so the shares may not be that much unless the estate is large. Maybe you could agree to sign up on the condition they give you a copy of the tree and certificates when they have finished, that alone might be worth it!

[guest189040]

My Grandfather was also one of nine and of those nine, one died in infancy and of the remaining eight half are presently blank on my tree as I cannot ID who or where or if they married with any degree of certainty.

It is imo the mobility of WW1 and after that lead to family members moving away.  Of the males marrying in a town remote from their upbringing as a result of a meeting occuring during and/or after WW1.

[Treetotal]

If you have contact with someone who has the same names in their tree on Ancestry, you could ask if they have been contacted in the same way.
Carol

[danuslave]

Update - I have spoken to the case manager and they do seem legit.  She has already told me the name of the person concerned, and I haven't signed anything yet!

[louisa maud]

That is interesting if they have told you the name, couldn't you do  bit of research yourself quickly

Louisa Maud