Claim or refer an unclaimed estate
Who to contact
The Government Legal Department handles bona vacantia in England and Wales (except in the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster).
There’s a list of unclaimed estates published by the Government Legal Department.
Adverts and claims
The Government Legal Department advertises to find entitled relatives. If you reply to an advert, you have to prove your relationship with the deceased, for example with a birth, marriage or death certificate.
Other bodies that represent the Crown
Elsewhere, bona vacantia is dealt with by:
- in the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster - Farrer and Co
- in Scotland - The King’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer
- in Northern Ireland - phone the Crown Solicitor’s Office for Northern Ireland
Crown Solicitor’s Office for Northern Ireland
Telephone: 028 9054 6037
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