How long does a Bona Vacantia claim take?

The first step is contacting the Government Legal Department to register your interest in an estate. You can do this by writing to the GLD's bona vacantia team, quoting the BV reference number and explaining your relationship to the deceased.

The GLD will acknowledge your enquiry and let you know whether an investigation is already underway, whether another claimant has already come forward, and whether the estate is still open.

This initial response typically takes a few weeks, though at busy periods it can take longer.

Once you have confirmed that the estate is open and that you may be entitled, you need to gather the documents that support your claim. This is usually the stage that takes the most time.

Ordering birth, death, and marriage certificates from the General Register Office can take several weeks per certificate. For older records or records from other countries, research can take considerably longer.

During this period, the GLD may also be conducting its own investigations into the estate — establishing the value of the assets, tracing other potential claimants, and obtaining a grant of representation.

Once you have assembled your evidence, you submit a formal claim to the GLD. This typically involves a covering letter explaining your relationship to the deceased, accompanied by all supporting documents.

If you are using a solicitor, they will prepare and submit the claim on your behalf. If you are claiming directly, the GLD has guidance on its website about what to include.

The GLD will acknowledge receipt and confirm whether your claim appears complete. If documents are missing, they will ask for them at this stage.

The GLD's investigations team will review your claim, verify the documents, and establish whether any other claimants exist. If the family tree is complex or disputed, this stage can take a long time.

For some estates, the GLD may appoint a genealogist to research the family independently. Their report will be used alongside your own evidence.

If multiple claimants come forward, the GLD will need to assess each claim in turn before deciding how to distribute the estate.

Once the GLD is satisfied that your claim is valid and that all potential claimants have been identified, payment is made. The process of transferring funds typically takes a few weeks after the claim is formally approved.

Interest accrues on bona vacantia estates from the date of death, so the longer the process takes, the larger the total amount that is ultimately paid to claimants.

Complexity of the family tree: a direct child claiming their parent's estate is straightforward. A second cousin once removed tracing a line through several generations is not.

Availability of records: certificates for events in the nineteenth or early twentieth century, or for events that occurred outside England and Wales, can take months to obtain.

Multiple claimants: if several people come forward claiming entitlement, the GLD must investigate all claims before distributing the estate. This significantly extends the timeline.

Estate value and complexity: large estates with property, business interests, or overseas assets take longer to administer than simple cash estates.

The GLD's own workload: the bona vacantia team handles thousands of estates at any one time. Response times vary.

The single most effective thing you can do is to start gathering documents as soon as you identify a potential match — before you even contact the GLD. Having a complete evidence file ready when you make your initial enquiry can save months of back-and-forth.

FindMyLegacy's case management system and document checklist are designed to help you stay organised through this process, tracking which certificates you have, which are on order, and which are still to be found.

Instructing a solicitor who specialises in bona vacantia claims can also speed things up, as they will be familiar with what the GLD requires and can present your evidence in the most efficient format.