Back in July 2025, the official list of people who have died without leaving a Will, known as the Bona Vacantia, was removed from the GOV.UK website due to allegations that it was being used by criminals to manipulate the probate system and defraud estates. On 12 January 2026, the Government Legal Department reinstated the Bona Vacantia list, as their investigation found no evidence that the list was the source of fraud.
The Bona Vacantia list can now be accessed online again; however, the information provided has been restricted to “protect the list’s integrity”. In the Government Legal Department’s press release, they added that the list still provides “sufficient information for people to identify a family member.”
Why was the Bona Vacantia list taken offline?
The list was temporarily suspended due to allegations of fraud within the probate system. The government acted after a BBC investigation revealed that criminal gangs may have been exploiting the list to fraudulently claim inheritance worth millions of pounds. The perpetrators reportedly exploited the legal system by writing fraudulent Wills to receive Grants of Probate, allowing them to pose as the sole beneficiaries of an unknown amount of money and property. There was suspicion that the Bona Vacantia list aided the criminals by alerting them to unclaimed estates, which triggered the review of the unclaimed estates list.
Reinstating the Bona Vacantia list
Over six months after its suspension, the Bona Vacantia list has been reinstated, as no evidence was found that the list was linked to fraudulent activity. The list has been republished online with restricted information about the deceased and their unclaimed estates. The list now displays:
- The deceased’s name
- Date of death
- Place of death
- Bona Vacantia Division case reference number
Previously, the list typically included the deceased’s date and place of birth. The estimated value of the estate was removed some years ago, ironically, as a counter-fraud measure.
If a potential claimant would like further details, requests can be made for more information, and they “will be considered in accordance with all relevant statutory requirements.”
Although the Bona Vacantia list is public once again, the Government Legal Department has specified that “The Bona Vacantia Division will continue to keep the list’s publication under review and if there are any further allegations of fraud or misuse, access may be restricted or removed without notice.” The future of the list and whether it could be unexpectedly removed again remains uncertain.
How the changes impact the probate genealogy industry
At Title Research, we primarily support Private Client Practitioners with probate genealogy work, and therefore, were unaffected by its removal. However, many Heir Hunters still use the Bona Vacantia list and have questioned the approach to restrict the data. They argue that censoring certain information has created additional barriers for legitimate claimants, while doing little to address fraudulent activity elsewhere in the probate system.
Title Research has long argued that the Bona Vacantia list should be restricted to approved professional genealogists with a proven track record in applying succession laws, rather than being openly accessible to individuals with little or no experience in probate genealogy. This would reduce the likelihood of criminal activity and further safeguard the administration of estates. We also believe that addressing the long-term issue requires more careful consideration, and that without the Bona Vacantia list, genuine claimants would have no means of discovering their potential entitlement.
How Title Research can support you
At Title Research, we specialise in supporting Solicitors with complex estate administration. Whether it’s verifying entitlement, locating missing beneficiaries, or dealing with overseas assets, our team is here to make the process more efficient and risk-free.
Title Research provides fast, fixed-fee access to genealogical research, making us the safe choice for the resolution of complex estate administration cases. If you want to find out more, get in touch with our Client Services Team by calling 0345 87 27 600 or emailing info@titleresearch.com.
Topics: news, Genealogical research, Intestacy, Estate administration, Inheritance, Bona Vacantia, Wills
