Heir Searching: How To Find Missing Heirs To An Estate

In an ideal world when someone dies, the decedent’s taxes and debts will be resolved and any remaining funds would be paid to the heir/s of the estate. Sadly it’s not always easy locating an heir, and the personal representative/s will be responsible by law to attempt this. Perhaps the heir was a son who fell out with his parents and became estranged or a friend who moved abroad without leaving any contact details. 

It may be that you are in the same predicament right now – you’re not the first person to be in this situation and you definitely won’t be the last. Fortunately, there are a number of different avenues you can go down to trace them. We will now discuss some of them together right now. 

Begin With The Internet

As with just about everything, this is a wise place to start. For questions about probate research, heir searches, estate settlements, and lineages there are specialist companies that have a presence online. They can explain what to expect if you use an heir search service, and disclose what are their credentials and experience. You can also learn how using a certified professional genealogist can save you time and money. 

Establish Whether A Will Exists

It is not mandatory to write a will, and not everybody gets one completed, signed, and witnessed. If they do, they may have employed the services of an attorney to make sure it’s the best possible version for their needs. If people write a will, they aren’t legally required to lodge it with a state agency or court. It could be lodged anywhere from a bank to a lawyer, or even be kept under the bed mattress. In the best scenario, the will should reveal the name of the heir rather than simply saying, ‘I leave the remainder of my estate to my identifiable heirs.’  

If There Was No Will

In this scenario, the estate would be administered under the term of state probate law. Any funds may go to the spouse and children, or parents/siblings if they were not alive. 

Things You Can Do Yourself

The initial step would be to collect every possible piece of documentation from the decedent’s home. This may include family letters plus education and employment records. Get the birth and death certificates, and any marriage license. Additionally look for any credit records, obituaries of family members, or real estate and cemetery records. 

Speak to both friends and family of the deceased, to ask about the missing heir/s. Try to discover where they were last known to be living, and what kind of job they had. Also ask about their relationships, e.g. possible spouse and children, and also their school history. 

Check Social Media And Online

A Google search (or trawling on Facebook or Twitter) may reveal details of the heir. Don’t be rigid over entering their full name online. Not everyone’s Facebook profile uses their full name and initials and some just use nicknames. As well as searching online, you could also post your request for details here. Produce a Facebook page devoted to locating the heir, and ask for information. In addition, websites like Instant checkmate background check or Truthfinder can also be helpful when trying to find an heir. It may help to reveal important details about the heir's identity, family history, and financial situation. This information can be vital in determining whether or not the heir is suitable for the job. Additionally, a background check can help to prevent fraud or scam artists from taking advantage of the situation. As such, it is always worth doing a bit of research before making any decisions about inheritance.

You may have heard of Craigslist which is a popular host for classified advertisements in the USA. Besides posting details of items wanted or for sale, it’s possible to post a ‘Looking For’ ad. 

Use Genealogists, Heir Hunters, Or Private Investigators

This may be your best option if your search has come to a standstill. You should bring your collection of paperwork to them so they can take further steps without duplicating what you’ve already done. Make sure the company is fully licensed if it’s legally required to be, and ensure the cost structure is fully discussed upfront. When it comes to heir search firms they can be percentage-based or non-percentage based. 

The company may have access to a network of global information and contacts to assist their inquiries. Genealogical research involves looking at peoples’ ancestry and establishing bloodlines, and this can often be highly successful. They may post details of your query in specific newspapers and publications, and this is a route the courts often recommend. 

Hopefully, you will discover the whereabouts of the missing heir and they will be able to claim their inheritance. Should the attempt fail, their share of the money will be temporarily placed in trust so the estate can be closed. If the missing heir has heirs they would be able to claim it or otherwise it could go to the state.