How to Make a Claim on a Bona Vacantia Estate

The legal procedure to claim an estate can seem daunting, but we aim to make things as simple as possible. If you require advice, you should contact a solicitor for help with your claim.
The first thing any heir needs to do is work out their relationship to the deceased and if they are entitled to make a claim.

Found Your Name in Our List - What Next?

If you find your name in our list and want to check your entitlement, the first thing you need to do is fill in our form with as much detail as you can give, and we will check against our details. If the details match, we will send you the name of the deceased, the Bona Vacantia reference number and all details we hold of your relationship to the deceased. We charge a small admin fee for this service, which is used to cover costs and maintain the website.

Who Can Claim?

The list below shows the hierarchy of entitlement to unclaimed estates:

Spouse or Civil Partner
Children, Grandchildren and their descendants
Parents
Full Siblings, Nieces, Nephews and their descendants
Half-Siblings and their descendants
Grandparents
Aunts, Uncles, First Cousins and their descendants
Half-Aunts, Half-Uncles and their descendants

Relatives are only entitled to make a claim if there is no closer relative. So, if there are siblings or their descendants living, cousins would not be entitled to a share.

Preparing Your Claim

In order to prove your entitlement, you will need to produce documentary evidence of your relationship to the deceased. All UK Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates can be obtained from the General Register Office. We do not hold any documents and cannot procure certificates for you. We will, however, provide as much information as we have about names, dates, etc.

Further Help with Making a Claim

Further details of how to claim and what docments are required can be found on the Bona Vacantia government site.
If you require additional advice or support you are advised to consult a solicitor.