In England & Wales when an individual dies without a valid will, the Intestacy Rules determine the order of inheritance. Under the rules of intestacy, the estate will be divided between their relatives in a certain way.
- The first to inherit is typically the surviving spouse or civil partner. They are entitled to the estate, including personal chattels, a statutory legacy, and a share of the remaining estate. If there is no surviving spouse or civil partner, the estate passes to the deceased’s children. The children inherit equally, regardless of their age or financial circumstances.
- If there are no surviving children, the estate may be inherited by the deceased’s parents or the one parent surviving if one has died.
- If the parents are both deceased, siblings or any surviving descendants inherit.
- If there are no siblings, half-siblings or any surviving descendants inherit.
- If there are no half-siblings, the estate passes to any surviving descendants of the Paternal and Maternal grandparents (assuming all the grandparents themselves died before the Deceased).
In England & Wales when someone passes away without a valid will, the Intestacy Rules determine who inherits their estate.
Daniel Curran comments, “It’s easy to assume that our property and possessions will automatically go to loved ones when we die, however, this is sadly not always the case.
If there are no surviving issue to whole or half-blood uncles and aunts, the Estate is classed as ‘Bona Vacantia’ and passes to the Crown, except in the Counties of Lancashire and Cornwall, where estates pass to the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall respectively.”
A list of unclaimed estates is published weekly to give any living relatives the opportunity to identify inheritance that may be theirs. You can visit www.bonavancantialist.co.uk for a full list of estates. This list is updated daily.
Most recent names added to the list include Sere, Starikovs, Edem, Steel, Evans, Mercado, Lewis, Smith and Riley. Do you recognise any of these names? You can search the list by forename, surname, date of birth, death, place of marriage or death and maiden names to see if you can find unclaimed inheritance that might be yours. You can also search by areas, such as cities.
Danny continues, “To prove your entitlement to an estate which is listed on the Bona Vacantia list, you need to show evidence of your relationship to the deceased. This includes the dates of birth, marriages and deaths of everyone on the family tree – with documentary evidence to support your claim.
If you believe that you may be the rightful owner of an unclaimed estate, you can contact Daniel Curran’s team at Finders International. Probate Research companies that specialise in providing proof of family trees can help in this regard.
Winners of ‘Best UK Probate Research Firm 2023’, Finders International trace beneficiaries to these unclaimed estates. They have a team of experienced and qualified genealogists who are experts in tracing people and property worldwide, using a variety of methods, including online research, public records, and interviews with family and friends. For any questions call 0207 490 4935.
Further reading: Rules of Intestacy
