Unclaimed Estates in the UK: Could You Be Owed Money?
Thousands of Brits could be sitting on small fortunes without even knowing it, as more than 6,000 estates in the UK where a person has died are currently dormant. A recent analysis of the data by finance expert Gary Hemming from ABC Finance has revealed that hundreds of these estates share very common British surnames.
The top 10 surnames with unclaimed estates include Smith, Jones, Brown, Williams, Taylor, Wilson, Davies, Evans, Thomas, and Johnson. In total, there are 6,033 unclaimed estates across the United Kingdom right now, meaning that many people are missing out on what could be legally theirs.
If someone dies without a will, there is a specific order in which relatives are entitled to claim the estate. To make a claim, individuals must prove to the Bona Vacantia division (BVD) of the Government Legal Department that their claim is legitimate by providing a family tree, birth certificates, and proof of ID.
If the amount in the estate is less than £15,000, the process is fairly straightforward, and the money will be sent to the claimant after final paperwork is signed. However, if the estate is worth more than £15,000, it may be best to seek the assistance of a legal professional who can help navigate the more complex aspects of the claim.
This presents an opportunity for individuals with common British surnames to potentially uncover a piece of history and claim their ancestral inheritance. It’s a chance not only to enrich oneself but also to honor the legacy of those who came before.
