LIST OF UNCLAIMED BONA VACANTIA ESTATES
Q. Can you give me more information about the BBC programme Heir Hunters?
A. We are advised by BBC Television that the 4th series of this programme begins broadcasting on 18th January 2010 on BBC 1 at 9.15am featuring estates many of which will have been referred to the Treasury Solicitor. Please note that Heir Hunters is a BBC production and the Treasury Solicitor accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided. To view the list of unclaimed estates please click on the link to the left of this page.
Q. What Period Does the List Cover?
A. The attached list details estates referred to the Bona Vacantia Division from 1 January 1997 onwards which have not, as yet, been claimed by entitled blood relatives. The list will be updated and placed on the website on the first working day of each month.
Please note that the list cannot be guaranteed to be complete and correct and no warranties are given or implied to that effect. The Treasury Solicitor does not accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions in the information or for any loss which might result from reliance thereon.
Q. Will Lists of Cases Referred to Bona Vacantia before 1997 Be Provided?
A. The Division’s records are only computerised from 1January 1997 onwards and information regarding estates dealt with by the Division before this date is contained within paper archives. This information is difficult and costly to retrieve, and consequently will not be added to the list on the website.
Q. Will Bona Vacantia Tell Me the Value of the Estates?
A. Bona Vacantia Division takes the issue of fraud against its assets very seriously and any suspected cases of fraud will be reported to the police. As part of a policy to combat fraud, Bona Vacantia changed its policy in December 2007 concerning advertising the values of deceased's estates. Values of estates are no longer publicised on our website or in our press advertisements. Our purpose in advertising is to try and find any relatives entitled to the estate in priority to the Crown. Including the value of the estate plays no role in this and indeed may help to put the estate assets at risk. In order to safeguard estates we will not be giving any information out about the size of an estate until a kin claim has been admitted by us.
Q. How Can I Obtain the Date and Place of Birth of the Deceased Listed?
A. This information can be found on the death certificate of the deceased. Certificates can be obtained from the local Registrar where the event took place or from the General Registrar Office (GRO), PO Box 2, Southport, Merseyside, PR8 2JD or by telephoning 0845 603 7788. Further details can be obtained from the GRO's website at www.direct.gov.uk/gro.