The volume of unclaimed estates in the North East of England has been described by industry experts as “phenomenal”, prompting a campaign to seek public help in tracking down those entitled to the assets of the deceased.
Local authorities in the North East and North Yorkshire have published a list of hundreds of unclaimed estates in a bid to find the rightful heirs. This follows the Government’s lead in releasing details of everyone who died in the region and didn’t leave a Will or details regarding their next of kin within the last 30 years.
One reason that has been suggested for the large number of unclaimed estates is the movement of families, which is leading to more individuals dying with no nearby relatives to leave their estates to. An estate will pass onto the Crown if no claimant has come forward within 12 years of a person’s death, although a portion of the estate can still be claimed up to 30 years after.
Although the mystery surrounding unclaimed estates often captures the imagination of the public, professionals must carry out major research to track down the rightful beneficiaries.
Simon Barber, Operations Manager at Title Research, commented:
“The substantial number of unclaimed estates in the North East highlights the importance of leaving a Will. In situations where there isn’t one, it is possible for relatives to do their own genealogical research however this can take a significant amount of time. Unlike many of our competitors who can charge up to 40% of the estate’s value to cover the research cost, Title Research only charge the cost of any work we undertake. This cost will be agreed up front, ensuring a clear and transparent service for all involved – we believe this is the ethical way to help our clients.”
To view the full list of unclaimed estates in the North East and North Yorkshire please click here.
Source
Thenorthernecho.co.uk
Topics: news, Intestacy, Unclaimed, Estate
