Have you always felt like you were born to be rich? You could be right…
In August 2024, the Government began releasing a comprehensive list of all the unclaimed estates in the UK.
It updates it every weekday.
The latest list shows there are 19 unclaimed estates in Cumbria.
If there’s a chance you might be heir to one of these estates, you could be in for a treat.
What is an unclaimed estate?
When someone dies without leaving a will, their estate is passed on following rules of intestacy a set of rules outlined in the Inheritance and Trustees’ Powers Act 2014.
These rules allow married partners and blood relatives to inherit the solely owned possessions, property and assets of the person who has passed away.
If there are seemingly no relatives, their estate will be passed on to the Treasury as ownerless property or bona vacantia. This means the Government gets millions a year from unclaimed estates.
What if someone on this list is your ancestor?
What estates are unclaimed in Cumbria?
| First name | Surname | Date of death | Place of death | Date of birth | Place of birth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Mark Frith | Blezard | 20/4/2009 | Workington | 16/3/1953 | Workington |
| Jemima | Daniels | 12/2/2018 | Carlisle | 31/8/1935 | – |
| Augustus | Eglitis | 1/7/2005 | Workington | 30/3/1919 | – |
| Phyllis Cecila | Fogden | 5/9/2010 | Maryport | 28/9/1924 | Surrey |
| Jean | Graham | 28/8/2014 | Carlisle | 30/3/1942 | Cumbria |
| Margaret | Hughes | 14/4/2018 | Lancaster | 22/12/1953 | Kendal |
| Joseph Scott | Irving | 26/10/1994 | Maryport | – | – |
| Carol Anne | King | 24/3/2011 | Carlisle | 22/10/1945 | Carlisle |
| Teresa Rozalia | Kost | 4/4/2024 | Whitehaven | 4/4/1932 | Ruda Slaska, Poland |
| Rodney David | McCaig | 5/9/2011 | Carlisle | 19/3/1955 | Carlisle |
| Eugene | McGuire | 8/8/2022 | Carlisle | 14/7/1950 | Ireland |
| John Teare | Mashiter | 01/6/2024 | Kensington & Chelsea, London | 17/7/1945 | Penrith |
| Diane | Meakin | 30/12/2022 | Kendal | 18/6/1946 | England |
| Peter Wharton | Rooke | 28/1/2004 | Barnoldswick, Lancashire | 11/8/1945 | Carlisle |
| Alan | Tyson | 16/6/2013 | Cuneo, South Turin, Italy | 21/5/1961 | Carlisle |
| Geoffrey | Watson | 19/1/2017 | Carlisle | 22/7/1948 | Carlisle |
| Ronald Calder | Weightman | 15/12/2011 | Whitehaven | 25/4/1935 | Workington |
| Kenneth | Western | 25/01/1998 | Carlisle | – | Brampton |
| Ida | Wilson | 10/1/2017 | Carlisle | 29/12/1926 | England |
For a full list of unclaimed estates, visit the Government website here
Who is entitled to an unclaimed estate?
If the deceased did not leave a will and no blood relatives can be found, the estate will be considered ownerless.
The person who inherits the estate will be determined by a set of rules called the rules of intestacy.
The people entitled to the estate and the order of inheritance is as follows:
- Husband, wife or civil partner
- Direct descendants (children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren)
- Parents
- Siblings or their children (nieces and nephews)
- Half-blood siblings or their children
- Grandparents
- Aunts and uncles or their children
- Half-blood aunts and uncles or their children
How to make a claim on an unclaimed estate
Firstly, you need to check if you’re eligible. You will need a detailed family tree, including dates of birth, marriage and death of the family members.
If you fall into one of the categories listed above, that does not mean you will automatically get the estate.
You will need to have documentation to prove your relation to the deceased. Including:
- Certificates – full birth certificate showing both parents’ names. Marriage certificates of each person between you and the deceased (including yours).
- Proof of identification including your name and address.
- Evidence and an explanation of why there may be missing or inconsistent documents.
If you have a solicitor working for you, which is highly recommended, they will need a letter or contract signed by yourself as confirmation that they have permission to act on your behalf.
How to make sure your estate is not left unclaimed
The easiest way to make sure your estate doesn’t go unclaimed is to write a will.
Writing a will gives you the ability to put your wishes in writing making them legally binding.
If you die and you haven’t left a will, your estate will follow the rules of intestacy.
In some circumstances, if you have a partner and you are not legally married, they will not inherit anything under the rules of intestacy.
If you write a will, you can outline exactly how you want your estate to be divided and who you wish to benefit from said estate.
It will stop your estate going to people you might not be in contact with or whom you would not wish to inherit.
Butterworths Solicitors are local legal experts who are passionate about helping their clients with all their wills, trusts, and probate needs.
Find out how they can help you by visiting their website at butterworths-solicitors.co.uk or give them a call on 01228 593939.
