Probate Question.

[itsmefolks]

I am wondering what charges are normal for someone Heir hunting to speak? I have been asked by various companies to sign a form that gives them a percentage of my inheritance. Some ask for 20% others for 10%!! I`m not sure of the pitfalls and as well too!!
It seems a long lost Aunt has died in Palma and left no will. I have been traced as a beneficiary as well as my other brother and sister. Any help would be appreciated.

[Richard1966]

even at 20% your getting 80% of something you didnt know about. Make sure that the fee is fixed with no extra payments at a later stage. Do a search on each company to find out some back ground info. Search for "company name + problems" to see what experiences other heirs may have had.

[buildersmate]

Geez - this is manna from heaven for you. You've got more than one organisation chasing after you. What you now do is trade one off against the other - the lowest percentage offer wins your sole business with them.

This is why these people run around like headless chickens on the telly, trying to get to the beneficiary BEFORE any of their competitors. Since they've both found you, you can tell each of them that they are in a competition - but don't tell either of them the identity of the other.

If the lowest one is asking 10%, go in at 8% and see what happens.

[itsmefolks]

Sounds good. Thanks for that advice.

[magsmay]

just make sure they don't ask for any money up front -sounds like a bit of a scam to me

[itsmefolks]

Gonna get my Niece on it I think? She`s a solicitor. Cheers everyone.

[chrissa1]

I've watched "Heir Hunters" on TV and I haven't seen any money being asked for upfront by the companies that take part in the programme. It all seems kosha and as they do all the work, I think they're entitled to a percentage of what otherwise, you would have no knowledge of.

Check them out too though. Good luck.

[beckersjay]

I think in Heir Hunters they take 10% of the proceeds. I don't know if this might be negotiable to a lower percentage for a large estate where 10% would more than cover their costs. If you do your own claim, remember you will have to fund all yor own research and documentation

[beckersjay]

Also I assume you don't only have to prove your own claim to the estate but also prove that there are no other legitimate claimants.

[Peter Pedant]

If you have someone in the family who is legal then get them to do it. There are some scamming companies who want money up front and then say oh we have checked further and you are not owed anything.
sort of obvious really

20% always struck me as being quite alot

and have fun spending the money

[itsmefolks]

Yes thanks for those answers. My guess is that it isn`t a scam as no money is being asked for. I have passed the info on and I will let you know the outcome. Thanks.

[woofgang]

from what i have seen on TV, what you pay heirhunters for is that they work to do the proving.

[buildersmate]

You've obviously been watching another programme, then Woofgang.

What they do is not 'proving' anything. The value of the estate is known; what is unknown is if there are any heirs. no heirs are found, the estate goes to the Crown, so reduces out tax bill (ha, ha). Of course they won't disclose the identity or any other details about the estate that they have identified, which are invariably intestate.

So they are on for a 'finder's fee'. Their costs are irrelevant to the OP; all that matters is signing a contract at minimum % that means they disclose what they have discovered, in exchange of a percentage of the proceeds. And of course, no money upfront.

[woofgang]

but don't they research the link between the supposed inheritor and the deceased, turn up the certification and also hunt for other possible heirs?

[NOX]

You don't need to pay anyone anything at all- you can do it yourself, especially since you already know it was your aunt's estate. You do need to prove you are a beneficiary but that ought to be simple enough these days with the availability of ordering online certificates. I'd think carefully before giving anyone anything you don't have to.
''Times 'is 'ard'', as they say

[boxtops]

woofgang, that's what I understand the programme is about, yes. The Heirs" only sign the contract when the connection has been proven.

[NOX]

itsmefolks- Here is the email of the govt department that deals with things like this- they are very helpful.

[email protected]

and a website explaining more clearly the process for claiming yourself.

https://www.gov.uk/unclaimed-estates-bona-vacantia/make-a-claim-on-an-estate

[Baldric]

http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2010/02/fraser-fraser-will-help-you-ge.html

10%, seems a bargain!

[itsmefolks]

Just been on to my Niece who is a solicitor. It seems she has negotiated a fee of 2% with a maximum payment of £500 for her mum/my sister from the inheritance probate people!! Iv`e agreed to have the same probate company of course. Good girl or what?

[buildersmate]

OK, glad you got the result you required.