Fraser and Fraser

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Who We Are
- Our Firm At A Glance
  Fraser and Fraser has over 90 years of experience in probate research.
- What We Do
  Discover the world of genealogy and probate research with Fraser and Fraser.
- Genealogy News
  Read up on the latest probate research news and delve into our genealogy blog.
- Meet The Team
  Our team have over 400 years of combined experience in probate and genealogy services.
- Corporate Social Responsibility
  See how we conduct our business, how we interact with the community, manage our environmental impact and treat our employees.
- Testimonials
  Hear from some of our many happy clients on the services we offer.
- Making History
  The Making History schools project.
- Job Vacancies
  Check here to see our latest vacancies.
- Give Us Your Feedback
  We love hearing from our clients and aim to continually improve thanks to your feedback.
Legal Services
- Find Missing Beneficiaries
  Locating missing heirs and beneficiaries is at the heart of our business. As international probate researchers, we’ll tailor our service so it’s unique for you.
- Missing Beneficiary Insurance
  We can obtain Missing Beneficiary Insurance on your behalf.
- Medallion Signature Guarantee
  Authorise the transfer or sale of North American assets by using a certified STAMP guarantor.
- Certificate Ordering Service
  Obtain a birth, death or marriage certificate with our quick and easy service.
- Will Search Service
  Discover whether a valid Will exists before the estate is distributed.
- Missing Will Insurance
  We can obtain Missing Will Insurance on your behalf.
- International Bankruptcy Search
  We can undertake international bankruptcy searches on your behalf.
- Research Assessment
  The quick and efficient way to receive an expert opinion on your family tree research.
- Find Unclaimed Assets
  Let our experts help you locate lost or unknown assets to an estate.
- Managing Assets
  Valuation, transfer and sale of shares and resealing grants.
- Probate Property Services
  Assistance with valuation, insurance, clearance and sale of probate property.
- Nil Rate Band Check
  Obtain proof of transfer ability.
- What Are The Costs?
  Download a comprehensive list of all our services and their costs.
- Refer A Case
  If you would like to use one of our services, please get in touch.
Public Sector
- Why Work With Us
  It’s quick, it’s free and it cuts out the middle man. Contact us to learn more.
- Searching For Next-Of-Kin?
  We can help you search for missing beneficiaries, and it won’t cost you a penny.
- Dealing with an Empty Property
  We offer a broad range of probate property services suitable to Local Authorities.
- Services for Appointeeship and Deputyship Officers
  We can Client Finance, Appointeeship & Deputyship and Court of Protection Officers locating the executors or next of kin.
- Asset Search
  We can help local authorities uncover any assets left behind.
- Locating a Will
  Discover whether or not there is a valid Will.
- Additional research services
  We may be able to assist you with other case work as well.
- Public Sector FAQ
  Got a question? Our probate research experts are on hand to help.
- Refer A Case
  If you would like to use one of our services, please get in touch.
Beneficiaries
- Why Have We Contacted You?
  Received a letter, email or voice mail from us and want to know more? Let us explain.
- How Long Does Probate Take?
  We explain our processes and the work involved with tracing missing beneficiaries.
- Frequently Asked Questions
  Got a question? Our probate research experts are on hand to help.
- Terminology
  With probate research comes a lot of jargon - but fear not, we've got it covered.
- Been Contacted By An Heir Hunter?
  Have you been contacted by a firm of probate researchers, but you're not sure if it's a legitimate claim? We're here to help.
- Refer A Case
  If you would like to use one of our services, please get in touch.
- Client Zone
  Login here to receive updates on your case
- Online Client Agreement
  This area is just for our clients who have already been contacted. Please log in here.
- Protected: Recommended firms for estate administration
  This is a protected page only for those beneficiaries who are also administrators of the estate.
Media
- Webinars
  All of our live webinars, recorded for you to watch.
- Heir Hunters
- Heir Hunters Appeals
  A list of cases from series 1 - 12 that have appeared on the program in the unclaimed appeals section. Fraser and Fraser have added the values.
- Job Vacancies
  Information on current vacancies an applying for a Job at Fraser and Fraser.
- Refer A Case
- Been Contacted By An Heir Hunter?
  What to look out for if you have been contacted by an Heir Hunter
- Unclaimed Estates
  An additional list of case that are unclaimed with Values.
  Why not have a go at helping us solving some of these cases where we have reached a dead end?
Contact Us
- Opt in to stay informed

UPDATED Statement on COVID-19

Whilst we strive to run our operations as normal, the safety of our staff and clients is our top priority and at the heart of every decision, we make. Over the past 51 years, the business has faced many challenges and we have constantly evolved our working patterns, but never on such a scale as has occurred since the start of the pandemic.

We’re pleased to announce the launch of a new scheme in partnership with NHS Test and Trace: We Offer Testing To Our Staff. This scheme shows our employees and customers that we are dedicated to regular workplace testing.

When entering the office, strict social distancing measures are in place, we have modified the office to avoid face-to-face contact, installed additional dividers and screens as well as providing cleaning products and sanitisers easily accessible to everyone.

In line with the Government guidance, for a large part of 2020 and the first four months, of 2021 Fraser and Fraser took the decision that face-to-face meetings were not allowed under the COVID laws, we remain disappointed that certain other high-profile competitors didn’t read the rules as we and others did. It has always been our belief that safety must come first even if it is detrimental to the business. From mid-April 2021 Fraser and Fraser have allowed some staff to make contact with clients and potential clients in their own homes. These meetings are all conducted following strict guidance; individual risk assessments are conducted and recorded before all meetings, and all of our traveling staff have been provided with Government issued testing kits to allow them to test daily before any contact with members of the public and Face masks are to be worn at all times when in a meeting. Importantly it is vital that both parties of a potential meeting are happy with the arrangements and feel safe.

Fraser and Fraser have continued our work throughout the pandemic and are looking forward to the easing of restrictions as infection rates fall and as the distribution of COVID vaccinations increases. We will continue to follow Government guidelines to keep the welfare of our staff, clients and contacts secure so that our work distributing the funds to which our clients are entitled can continue.

At this time our thoughts are with all those who haven’t been so fortunate in this global crisis.

WHO WE ARE

We’re Fraser and Fraser, a professional team of genealogists and international probate researchers, dedicated to tracing missing beneficiaries to unclaimed estates.

With over 90 years of experience, we assist the legal profession with every element of estate administration.

MORE THAN
20,000
CASES SOLVED

OVER
100,000
BENEFICIARIES TRACED

TOTAL CASE VALUE
£200,000,000+

HAVE WE CONTACTED YOU?

We think you may be legally entitled to a share of an estate

You may know the person we are trying to contact

We would like to confirm you are the person we think you are

Solicitors

We assist the legal profession in all aspects of estate administration, using our expert knowledge to track down missing heirs to unclaimed estates.

Public Sector

Searching for next-of-kin is what we do best, and so offer our support free of charge to the public sector looking to trace relatives.

Beneficiaries

Heirs and beneficiaries are at the core of our business, as we work on your behalf to bring you an unexpected windfall.

Heir Hunters

You may have seen us on BBC One’s Heir Hunters (since day one!), keeping you involved in the world of probate research, as we trace down heirs to unclaimed estates ahead of the competition.

Quick Links

Have you been contacted by another Heir Hunter?

If you have been contacted by another company of “Heir Hunters” or Probate Genealogists / Researchers then follow this link to read some of the signs to help you identify the difference between a legitimate company and a fraudster.

Fraser and Fraser offer a free verification service to potential heirs.

Online Client Agreement

Use this link if you have already been contacted by us and wish to fill in the Questionnaire or Agreement online.

Regulation

We believe in regulation. In 2016 Fraser and Fraser were one of the founding firms of the Association of Probate Researchers, a member body of The Professional Paralegal Register (PPR) and the first regulatory body in the Probate Research industry.

Find out more about the Association of Probate Researchers and how our Case Managers became among the first to be regulated by the PPR.

Contact us

We pride ourselves on being approachable and responsive. If you have an enquiry, would like to refer an estate to us or have a question regarding your case, please get in touch – we’d love to hear from you.

What they say

I would like to thank everyone concerned for all of the hard work by them and for the information given to me. I have since then been able to meet with various relatives who I have not seen for many years. Wonderful!
Audrey Hockney – Beneficiary

“My siblings and I wish to take this opportunity to thank you for addressing this matter, and for your patience and dedication to pursuing it.”
Icilda Brown – International Beneficiary

"I heard of your firm from the television programme 'Heir Hunters'. My contact with the staff was very good, they were polite and helpful."
Irene Simmons – Beneficiary

“I am just writing to say thank you for your involvement in sorting out our family tree. Thank you for all your hard work on this case, and thanks to your team. I’ve enjoyed watching the television episodes of Fraser and Fraser very much and so I’ve been absolutely delighted to find myself on the receiving end.”
Suzannah White – Beneficiary

“Very quick response to our query and then dealing very efficiently with the USA Bankruptcy search we requested at a very reasonable price.”
Solicitor

"Thank you for all your hard work - very pleased and a nice surprise to receive a cheques despite the long wait."
Susan Summer – Beneficiary

“Very efficient and prompt in communication. Helped us achieve what we needed to do.”
Sinem Goodger – Thomas Boyd Whyte Solicitors

"Thank you very much for the cheque I received. It was a pleasant surprise when you first contacted me and I have found the process very stress free. It seems that there are indeed good people out there in this new world of technology. Not all firms are what I call "ambulance chasers". I found this a good, easy and professional experience."

Sue Hartley – Beneficiary

"I have been extremely satisfied every step of the way with the very professional service provided by Brian Shew. As already noted, this was a fairly complex case where all the different hurdles were dealt with in a very satisfied manner."
Beneficiary

Please pass on to the Case Manager, my personal thanks for keeping me well informed during the fairly lengthy administration period that Estates of this type necessarily generate.”
Sandra Dixon – Beneficiary

“Thank you very much for your report, and I am pleased to see this has been a successful search. Thank you again for a good service and I am sure I will use you again if required.”
Lindsey Johnson – Partner, Williscroft & Co