If you’ve received a call from a probate researcher, your first thought might be: What could I be inheriting and from who? Whether you knew the relative well or not at all. It’s normal to think about what an inheritance might involve.
Blanchards traces and identifies next of kin and beneficiaries. We often begin with very limited information about the deceased and usually do not know the value of the estate. Only after we have located the beneficiaries and begun investigating the case are we able to assess the estate’s assets.
What is an inheritance?
An inheritance refers to the assets or possessions passed to heirs or beneficiaries after someone’s death. This can include money, property, investments, or sentimental personal items.
If the deceased left a valid will, it would specify who should receive each asset and how the estate should be distributed. If there is no will (known as intestacy), the estate is distributed according to the laws of intestacy.
Blanchards real cases
Media coverage of inheritance often focuses on large estates or high-profile family disputes. However, even straightforward estates require careful work to ensure the right people receive what they are entitled to.
In one case, a solicitor asked us to trace a beneficiary who was entitled to receive a trust fund. We successfully located the beneficiary and confirmed their identity before putting them in touch with the solicitor. When we informed the beneficiary, they were delighted to learn about the inheritance. Hearing the words “trust fund” might lead people to imagine a substantial sum of money built up over many years. The trust fund amounted to £50. Given the small value of the estate, we chose not to charge a fee for our work.
In another case, a beneficiary named in a will needed to be traced so they could receive their inheritance. While many people assume an inheritance will be money, this was not the case. The deceased had left the beneficiary a typewriter, a collection of books, and a bedside table. While these items may seem like everyday items, they can hold sentimental value to others. Cases like these show that inheritance is not always about receiving money.
What shapes inheritance expectations?
The media often highlights stories of intestacy and inheritance involving unexpected fortunes or long-lost relatives inheriting large estate. Films and television programmes also tend to dramatise inheritance with family disputes and hidden wealth.
What can the estate be charged for?
When we begin administering the estate, there may be costs such as probate fees, obtaining documents, funeral expenses, outstanding debts or property maintenance. These expenses are not charged to the beneficiary but comes out of the estate.
What else you might gain?
As part of our service, we provide family trees to beneficiaries while administering the estate. Over time, many families lose touch with relatives or know little about their family history. A family tree can show connections of relatives you may not have known about. For many people, this can be more valuable than the inheritance itself.
Final thoughts
Not every inheritance can be a life-changing sum of money, but that does not make it any less important to the people receiving it. Although, we recognise that for some beneficiaries can receive an amount which can impact on their lives. Whatever the size of the estate, our commitment remains the same. We work to ensure that rightful heirs are identified and receive the inheritance they are entitled to. For more information like this, please read our other blogs.
