Does your family name appear on the list of thousands of unclaimed estates in the United Kingdom?

The government maintains a list of over 5,700 unclaimed estates that are awaiting the discovery of surviving family members

We examine the list and describe the process for submitting a claim.

Currently, 5,744 unclaimed estates are listed by the government, awaiting the discovery of their legitimate owners.

The estates could have thousands or even millions of pounds in assets, including property, savings, and valuables.

You can view the Treasury Solicitor's list of unclaimed estates for free on gov . uk. At the top of the list are newly advertised estates, and it is updated every working day.

Name, birthdate, deathdate, place of birth, and whether or not they had a spouse are among the details on the list; however, the estate value is not included.

Nonetheless, based on average UK home prices, the law firm Weightmans calculates that each one might be worth 281,913. This implies that there may be an astounding 1 point 6 billion waiting to be claimed by a living relative.

Thirteen unclaimed estates had been added on June 26th, when the BFIA checked the list. Turkey, Hungary, the United Kingdom, and Ireland were among the nations where the deceased were born.

People should see if their family name is listed, says Darren Gallagher, founder of Elite Realty Invest and a property expert. This is especially important because many people are not aware that they might be eligible for an inheritance.

According to Gallagher, "most people don't know they could be the rightful heir to an estate, especially if a distant relative died without a will." Property, money, and other assets are frequently left in limbo because no one has bothered to check.

When someone passes away without leaving a will and no surviving family members are identified, their estate is placed on the unclaimed list for a maximum of 30 years. Relatives have the legal right to assert their ownership during that period.

Disputes over inheritance have resulted from the recent five-year high in the number of estates lacking a will.

It has increased to 6,400 unclaimed estates in recent years.

We explore the information, examine the estates on the list, and explain how to file a claim if you believe you have a claim.

Top surnames with unclaimed property.

If you have a family name that is on the list of unclaimed estates, it might be worthwhile to check it out as some surnames are more common than others.

The ten most common surnames with unclaimed estates are listed here.

Elite Realty Invest is a source. in April of 2025.

Weightmans conducted a separate analysis last year that shows which regions have the highest number of unclaimed estates. With a startling 1,775 estates, London dominates other UK regions, underscoring the substantial wealth and legacy that remain unclaimed in the capital.

It "reflects the vast and diverse population of the city, along with the complexities and anonymity that urban life can foster," according to Weightmans.

Surrey is far behind with 290 unclaimed estates, indicating that many assets still do not reach their rightful heirs, even in more affluent areas.

Kent and Essex complete the top five with 229 and 210 unclaimed estates, respectively, while West Yorkshire comes in third place with 261 unclaimed estates.

The list can be searched by family name, region, and additional information such as partner, alias, adoption date, and even religion.

The deceased were born in a variety of nations, including Palestine, Congo, India, Malaysia, and the Seychelles, according to the list that BFIA examined on June 26. Since relocating to the UK, some of them might have lost contact with family.

Additional information is included in some of the list's entries, such as "possible cousin in Nigeria," "deceased was born illegitimate," "deceased may have had four daughters and a brother, no further information known," and "deceased's wife and children are believed to have been killed in a traffic accident in the 1960s/570s."

David O'Neill from North Yorkshire, Betty Joan Beattie from Kent, and Alain Butez from London are among the unclaimed estates that were added on June 26.

Describe the list of unclaimed estates.

In the UK, "Bona Vacantia," which translates to "ownerless goods" from Latin, applies to an estate when a person dies without a will and no known heirs.

The Bona Vacantia Division (BVD) of the Government Legal Department oversees this legal procedure. The division helps to prevent assets from being left in perpetual limbo in the absence of a clear heir.

Weightmans says the BVD looks into the matter thoroughly in order to find any possible heirs. This entails looking over the deceased's financial and family history as well as possibly collaborating with researchers and genealogists.

If no will or heirs are found, the estate is then made public, giving anyone who thinks they might have a claimtypically family membersthe chance to come forward.

For up to 30 years, an estate is listed as unclaimed. In the event that no legitimate heir is found after 30 years, the estate irrevocably returns to the Crown. After that, the resources could be put to good use.

Keep in mind that if an estate is claimed within 12 years, the BVD will pay interest. No interest is paid if it is after 12 years.

Anyone can submit a claim?

The following individuals are entitled to the estate in the following order if a person passes away "intestate," meaning they left no valid or effective will.

Parents, spouses, or civil partners; children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and so forth; siblings who have the same mother and father; half-brothers or sisters; or their offspring (half-blood offspring or offspring). "Half" refers to the fact that they have only one parent in common with the departed grandparents, uncles, aunts, or their offspring (first cousins or their descendants). Half uncles and aunts or their offspring (first cousins of the half blood or their daughters). According to the BVD, if you are, for instance, the deceased's first cousin, you would only be eligible to receive a portion of the estate if there were no relatives higher up in the line of entitlement, such as a niece or nephew. "Half" indicates that they only share one grandparent with the deceased, not both.

The BVD website has a wealth of additional information on this topic.

Ways to get an unclaimed estate back.

First things first, create a family tree if you believe you have a claim to an unclaimed estate.

The dates of birth, marriage, and death of everyone on the tree, as well as your relationship to the deceased, must be included in this document that you must submit.

BVD will request documentation to support your claim if it seems you might be eligible to receive the estate.

Among other things, this includes your ID documents, your full birth certificate (which includes the names of your parents), and the marriage certificates of all the people you and the deceased had, including yours and theirs.

The government's "Make a claim to a deceased persons estate" webpage contains instructions.

Making sure you provide accurate information is crucial. Should you submit an incomplete claim and someone else subsequently submit a fully documented claim, the fully documented claim will be addressed.

You can find out if you qualify and submit the claim on your own. The BVD does, however, recommend that you obtain independent legal advice from a qualified solicitor, your local law center, or the Citizens Advice Bureau if necessary.

A fee, which may be a portion of the estate, will be required if you choose to work with a law firm or other claims organization.

How to make sure that someone claims your estate.

Making a will is the simplest way to make sure your estate doesn't wind up on the list of unclaimed estates.

This is particularly crucial if you have few or no surviving family members because, in the absence of a will, your estate may go unclaimed and return to the state.

You can designate who will inherit your assets in your will. Friends, family, and charitable organizations can all fall under this category.

See our guides on why you should write a will, how to do it for free, and will-writing services with high customer service ratings for more information.