probate / inheritance

[Dadsgirl]

My father (British cit - landed imm. to Canada)recently received a call from a co. in the u.s.a. saying that he stands to inherit some money. As his Mother,Father and Sister are all deceased a while ago, we are leary. Yet this Co. says that they only get paid upon the release of these monies. My father was present for the reading of his Mother's and Father's wills but not for his sister's. I've been about to track down her death certificate and is being delivered to me in Canada and hope that whomever registered her death is also the executor of her will.(BIG BREATH) Where would I be able to find the info on the executor or if in fact this is legitimate, how can I find out where they got the information on his inheriting this sum?
Thank you for any details/info/suggestions
Regards
Dad's Girl

[Peter Pedant]

These are usually scams

Good Luck with your searches

[Barmaid]

If your aunt died in England, enter a search at the probate registry when you have her date of death to see whether she died intestate or with a will. It may well be that this company are referring to her if she died intestate. If you find out, you can then take up the cudgels yourself without needing to pay this family anything.

I disagree with Peter Pedant saying they are normally scams. The probate searching/genealogical industry is HUGE! They search the Times on a Tuesday where the Treasury Solicitor publishes the lists of bona vacantia estates (ie estates where people have died intestate and there appears to be no family so it will go to the Crown). These companies work 24/7 to trace the family trees of the deceased person and when they find a relative, contact him or her and say "we will give you all the details for a fee of 15%". Chances are the beneficiary would have no idea otherwise and the Crown would claim it. So whilst 15% can sometimes be a big whack, I take the view that it is better for the beneficiary to receive 85% than nothing!!

[Barmaid]

Sorry in first para where I say family I mean company!!

[Dadsgirl]

Thank you for the info. It's so good to see that I'm may not be chasing red herrings all over the place. I have my Aunt's date of birth and death (month+year) and full name. I went through the London Gazette web site/archives and entered a search from the year of her death onwards and nothing came up. I have also tried several other searches there. I will try the probate office. Is there anywhere else that it would have to be listed/registered? What a wonderful thing if this is all legitimate and I'm able to track it all down. May be a future in the Genealogical field for me.lol