The official Bona Vacantia list was unexpectedly removed from the GOV.UK website last month. This action was raised by concerns of a criminal group exploiting the list to make fraudulent claims and manipulate Wills.
The removal of the page is currently under investigation, and there is no confirmed date for when it will be publicly available again.
What is the Bona Vacantia list?
Bona Vacantia is a register of unclaimed estates in England and Wales, listing assets, estates and property with no legal owner. This is usually when an individual has died intestate (without leaving a Will) or without known next of kin.
The impact on Heir Hunters and Councils
Blanchards used the Bona Vacantia list as a starting point for research to locate and contact missing next of kin to unclaimed estates. While the removal of Bona Vacantia has impacted Heir Hunters firms. We support the decision to help prevent fraud and safeguard both estates and heirs. Council offices use the Bona Vacantia to refer estates of those who have passed intestate, with an unclaimed estate. The Bona Vacantia being down has impacted both industries, but there is a solution…
How Blanchards can support you
Blanchards continues to assist local authorities and the wider public sector in tracing missing beneficiaries. Councils often rely on Bona Vacantia listings. We can help prevent estate backlogs that would otherwise default to the Crown.
When an individual passes away without anyone to arrange a funeral, we step in to help. We can help locate next of kin to help arrange and attend the funeral. Local authorities would be relieved of this pressure, as well as inform any missing relatives of their passing.
Already handling a funeral but need help finding heirs to the estate? Our dedicated research team have experience in tracing heirs to estates. We can get in touch with missing relatives to handle the estate.
Conclusion
The Bona Vacantia list remains unavailable as a short-term solution. This raises an important question: How can the industry more effectively safeguard entitled heirs while remaining transparent without putting sensitive information at risk.
Blanchards are here to support councils and public sector partners during this uncertain period. If you’d like to learn more, please get in touch through our contact form.
