How to Make an Inheritance Claim on an Unclaimed Estate in the UK

If you believe you are related to someone who died without a will and without known family, you may be entitled to make an inheritance claim on their unclaimed estate. The process is free, the list is public, and you do not need a solicitor or heir hunter to get started. This guide explains exactly how to go about it.

What is a bona vacantia inheritance claim?

When someone dies intestate — without a will — and has no known relatives, their estate passes to the Crown as bona vacantia, a Latin phrase meaning “ownerless goods.” In England and Wales, the Crown is represented by the Government Legal Department's Bona Vacantia Division, which administers the estate and publishes it on a public register.

An inheritance claim — sometimes called a legal claim on an estate — is the formal process by which a relative comes forward to demonstrate their entitlement and reclaim what would otherwise be absorbed by the state. Thousands of these estates sit on the list right now, some going back decades, waiting for someone to step forward.

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Who can make an inheritance claim?

UK intestacy law sets out a strict priority order for who is entitled to claim. The hierarchy runs as follows, with each category only inheriting if no one in the category above them survives:

1. Spouse or civil partner
2. Children (biological and legally adopted — not step-children)
3. Grandchildren (only if their parent has also died)
4. Parents
5. Full siblings
6. Half-siblings
7. Grandparents
8. Aunts and uncles (full, then half)
9. First cousins (only if their parent has also died)

Cohabiting partners — no matter how long the relationship lasted — have no entitlement under intestacy law. Neither do step-children who were not legally adopted. If you fall into one of these categories, you will not be able to make a successful inheritance claim, however unfair that may feel.

Not sure where you sit in the hierarchy? Use the FindMyLegacy entitlement checker to get a quick indication of whether you may be entitled to claim.

How to find the estate on the Bona Vacantia list

The starting point for any inheritance claim is confirming that the estate appears on the Bona Vacantia list — the official register of unclaimed estates maintained by the Government Legal Department. The list is publicly available and free to search.

One important thing to note: surnames on the list may be spelled differently to how you know them. A generation or two back, clerical errors, anglicisation, or regional spelling variations can mean the name you are looking for appears under a slightly different spelling. This is where phonetic matching makes a real difference.

FindMyLegacy uses Double Metaphone phonetic matching to find estates even when the surname spelling differs — so a search for “McKenzie” will also surface “Mackenzie,” “MacKenzie,” and “Mckensie.” You can also set up a watchlist to receive email alerts whenever a new matching estate is added to the list.

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How to make your inheritance claim: step by step

Step 1 — Verify the estate is listed

Search the Bona Vacantia list to confirm the estate appears and is still under administration. Check the deceased's name, date of death, and place of death to make sure you have the right person. Some estates have similar names — getting this right before investing in research saves significant effort.

Step 2 — Establish you are an entitled relative

Work out exactly how you are related to the deceased and where you sit in the intestacy hierarchy. Check whether anyone in a higher priority category is still living — if they are, they would inherit before you. If you are unsure, a probate solicitor can advise on your position before you invest time in building a full claim.

Step 3 — Build your documentary evidence

This is where most of the work lies. You need to prove your relationship to the deceased through an unbroken chain of official documents. Typically, this means assembling:

• Your birth certificate
• Birth, marriage, and death certificates for every linking relative
• A full family tree showing how you connect to the deceased
• Any marriage certificates for name changes along the chain

The more complete and unambiguous the chain of evidence, the smoother the claims process. Gaps in the documentary record are the most common reason claims stall.

Step 4 — Contact the Government Legal Department

Once you have your evidence, you contact the Bona Vacantia Division directly. You submit your family tree and supporting documents to demonstrate your entitlement. There is no fee for making a claim directly. The Division will review your submission and come back to you if they need anything further.

Step 5 — Allow the estate to be administered

If your claim is accepted, the Bona Vacantia Division will confirm the estate value and the amount you are entitled to. For estates below £15,000, funds can be released without a grant of representation. For larger estates, the full probate process applies. Payment is made once administration is complete.

How long do you have to make an inheritance claim?

You have up to 30 years from the date of death to bring a claim against a bona vacantia estate. That is a generous window — which is why the list contains estates going back to the 1970s — but it is not unlimited.

There is also an important threshold at 12 years. Claims brought within 12 years of the estate being administered may include interest on the sum owed. Claims made after that point — even if successful — do not accrue interest. If time is a factor, it is worth acting sooner rather than later.

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Do you need a solicitor or heir hunter to make an inheritance claim?

No — you can make a claim directly to the Bona Vacantia Division yourself, at no cost. The process is not trivial, but it is not legally complex either. If your relationship to the deceased is clear and the documentary chain is intact, a direct claim is perfectly achievable without professional help.

Where professional input genuinely adds value:

• Complex or contested cases — if multiple relatives are claiming, or the family tree is disputed, specialist genealogical and legal expertise is worth paying for.
• Missing records — if the documentary chain requires research in foreign archives or unusual historical sources, a professional genealogist can open doors that are hard to access alone.
• Large estates — where the sums involved are substantial, independent legal advice from a regulated probate solicitor (not an heir hunter) is a sensible investment.

If you are approached by an heir hunting firm, bear in mind that they typically charge 15–40% commission on whatever you receive. The Bona Vacantia list they are using is the same public list that is freely available to you. Read more in our guide to how heir hunters work.

A note on Scotland and Northern Ireland

The rules described in this guide apply to England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own separate intestacy legislation and their own processes for dealing with unclaimed estates. If the deceased lived in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you will need to research the relevant regional rules before making a claim.

Track your claim with FindMyLegacy Cases

Researching an inheritance claim can take months. You are gathering certificates, tracing family members, liaising with the Government Legal Department — there are a lot of moving parts. FindMyLegacy's case management tool lets you create a case against a specific estate, track your research status, and maintain a document checklist so nothing slips through the cracks.

One case is free. It is the kind of thing that would have taken a lever-arch file and a wall of Post-it notes not long ago.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make an inheritance claim if the person left no will?

Yes — dying without a will (intestate) is precisely what triggers the bona vacantia process. Dying intestate does not extinguish the rights of entitled relatives; it simply means the estate passes to the Crown if no one comes forward. If you are a qualifying relative, you can make a claim.

What is the time limit for an inheritance claim on an unclaimed estate?

You have 30 years from the date of death to make a claim. Claims made within 12 years of the estate being administered may also include interest. Claims after that threshold are still valid, but interest does not apply.

What documents do I need to support an inheritance claim?

You need an unbroken chain of official documents linking you to the deceased: your birth certificate, birth and death certificates for any relatives connecting you to the deceased, marriage certificates for any name changes, and a full family tree. The more complete the evidence, the stronger your claim.

Do I need a solicitor to make an inheritance claim?

No. You can claim directly from the Government Legal Department at no cost. A solicitor is not required, though it may be worth consulting one for complex cases or large estates. Heir hunters are not solicitors — they are commercial businesses charging significant commission.

What is the Bona Vacantia list?

The Bona Vacantia list is the public register of unclaimed estates published by the UK Government Legal Department. When someone dies without a will and without known relatives, their estate is referred to the Crown and listed here. It is freely searchable and updated regularly as new estates are added. FindMyLegacy provides a phonetically-matched search of the full list.