How Heir Hunters Work (And Why You Might Not Need One)

If you have ever discovered a potential unclaimed estate, you may have been approached by — or considered hiring — a firm of heir hunters. This article explains what heir hunters do, how they charge, whether they are regulated, and whether you actually need one.

What heir hunters do

Heir hunting is the commercial practice of researching unclaimed estates to identify living relatives who may be entitled to claim. Heir hunter firms monitor the Bona Vacantia list — the public register of estates that have passed to the Crown — and then research the family tree of the deceased to find potential beneficiaries who were unaware of their entitlement.

When a firm believes it has found a valid claimant, it contacts them with a contract. In exchange for being identified as a potential heir and guided through the claims process, the claimant agrees to pay the firm a percentage of whatever they ultimately receive from the estate.

The research itself is genealogical work: tracing family trees using birth, marriage, and death records from the GRO, census records, electoral rolls, and other historical sources. The firm then compiles the documentary evidence needed to support a claim to the Government Legal Department.

How much do heir hunters charge? The commission model

Heir hunters work almost exclusively on a contingency basis — they take a percentage of the estate if the claim succeeds, and nothing if it fails. Commission rates vary between firms, but the range is typically:

• Independent genealogists: 10–15% of the estate value
• Mid-size heir hunting firms: 20–30%
• Larger commercial operations: up to 40% in some cases

On an estate worth £50,000, a 25% commission means the firm takes £12,500. On an estate worth £200,000, that same rate costs £50,000. These are not regulated figures — firms set their own rates, and claimants who sign contracts without shopping around may pay significantly more than necessary.

It is legal to negotiate commission rates, and it is worth doing so. Some firms will reduce their rate if you can demonstrate that you had already identified the estate yourself before being contacted.

Are heir hunters regulated?

Heir hunting firms in the UK are largely unregulated. They are not licensed in the way that solicitors, financial advisers, or estate agents are. The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) and the Society of Genealogists have professional codes of conduct, but membership is voluntary and enforcement is limited.

This means there is significant variation in quality between firms. Some operate with high standards and transparent contracts; others have been criticised for opaque fee structures, aggressive contact tactics, or claiming credit for research the claimant had already begun independently.

Before signing any contract with a heir hunting firm, consider:

• Getting the contract reviewed by a solicitor
• Checking whether the commission is calculated before or after legal costs and taxes
• Asking whether the rate is negotiable, particularly if you already had some knowledge of the estate
• Researching the firm's reputation and how long they have been operating

Can you search the Bona Vacantia list yourself for free?

Yes — the Bona Vacantia list is a public document. The Government Legal Department publishes it and makes it freely available. You do not need to pay anyone to access it, and finding your name (or a relative's name) on the list does not obligate you to use a commercial heir hunting firm.

You can search the list directly on the Government Legal Department's website, or use FindMyLegacy for phonetically-matched search across the full list. Phonetic matching matters because surnames are often spelled differently across generations — a search for “Mackenzie” might miss “McKenzie” or “MacKenzie” without it.

Once you have identified a potential match and believe you are related to the deceased, you can contact the Government Legal Department directly to enquire about the estate and the claims process. There is no requirement to go through a commercial intermediary.

The Bona Vacantia list: the public record heir hunters use

This point is worth being explicit about: the starting point for every heir hunting firm is the same public list that is freely available to anyone. When a firm contacts you saying they have “discovered” that you may be entitled to an estate, they have found a name on the Bona Vacantia list and researched the family tree from there. The research may be valuable, but the source document is public.

The Bona Vacantia list is updated regularly as new estates are referred to the Crown. FindMyLegacy monitors the list and will send you an email alert when a new estate matching your saved surnames appears — so you can be the first to know, rather than waiting to be contacted by a commercial firm.

When you might genuinely need a heir hunter or solicitor

For all the above, there are situations where professional help is genuinely valuable — or even necessary:

• Complex or contested claims. If multiple relatives are claiming or the family tree is disputed, professional expertise in genealogical research and probate law can be essential.
• Missing records. If the documentary chain requires research in foreign archives, historical parish records, or other specialist sources, a professional genealogist can add real value.
• Large estates. For a substantial estate where the stakes are high, paying for independent legal advice — from a solicitor, not a heir hunter — to review your claim before submission makes sense.
• You received a contact already. If a firm has approached you and you are considering their contract, a solicitor can review it for you. This typically costs a few hundred pounds and could save you thousands.

The key distinction is between heir hunters (commercial, contingency-based, largely unregulated) and solicitors (regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, who charge transparently). For complex matters, a solicitor specialising in probate is usually the better option.