It may be necessary to claim unclaimed estates in Essex, having previously discussed the problems that may arise in this regard (http://andrewdouglaswills.co.uk/how-to-claim-an-unclaimed-estate-in-essex), Laura Richardson’s latest article provides some guidance to claim unclaimed estates in Essex.

When somebody dies in Essex without having made a Will and with no known family, UK law
dictates that all of that person’s belongings pass to the Crown. The deceased’s property is
thereafter referred to as ‘bona vacantia’, and can consist of anything owned by the deceased
including property, assets, cash, or personal belongings. If you have found out that a relative of
yours has died and you are not sure whether their Estate was unclaimed, you can contact the
relevant authorities in order to find out.

There is a wealth of information, as well as links to the relevant authorities at https://www.gov.uk/unclaimed-estates-bona-vacantia. However, the general process is very simple:

1. Find out if the Estate is registered as ‘bona vacantia’. This can be done via the above link. A
government department named the Bona Vacantia Division hold a register of all ‘bona
vacantia’ Estates. This register is fully accessible to members of the public. If the Estate in
question is not registered then you are also able to contact the Bona Vacantia Division to
alert them to a potential ‘bona vacantia’ Estate.

2. If the Estate in question is registered then the next step is to find out if you are a ‘entitled
relative’. There is a chain of inheritance when it comes to unclaimed Estates. The first people
who are entitled to make a claim on the Estate would be the deceased’s spouse or civil
partner, followed by any children of the deceased. If there are none, then any person
descended from a grandparent of the deceased is entitled to a share of the Estate, however
certain relatives will inherit before others. There are also rules regarding adoptive families. It
should be noted that if you are only related by marriage, then you would not be entitled to a
share of the Estate. Further details can be found at https://www.gov.uk/unclaimed-estatesbona-vacantia.

3. If the Estate is registered as ‘bona vacantia’ and you are an entitled relative then the next
step is to apply to the Bona Vacantia Division in order to make your official claim. In the first
instance you should contact the BVD with a complete family tree detailing how you are
related to the deceased. Should this be accepted by the BVD then you will be asked to
provide extra paperwork in order to validate your claim.

4. Finally, you must complete your fully evidenced claim within 30 years of the date of the
death of the deceased.

If you are in any doubt as to whether you are entitled to a share of a deceased relatives Estate, or if
you need any assistance in providing the required documentary evidence to the BVD you should
contact a Solicitor such as Andrew Douglas Wills and Legal Services. As specialists in the field of
Wills, Estates, Probate and related services, Andrew Douglas Wills and Legal Services can provide
you with comprehensive information and assist you in making your claim on an unclaimed Estate.
What’s more, Andrew Douglas Wills and Legal Services offer a free initial consultation during which
you can discuss your potential claim and receive relevant advice and information. Contact Andrew
Douglas Wills and Legal Services today to see how we can help you, whether in Essex, or across the
UK.

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