Unclaimed Estates List Pulled as Probate Fraud Uncovered

In a significant move that underscores growing concerns over probate fraud, the Bona Vacantia (BVD) of the Government Legal Department has temporarily take down its list of unclaimed estates from its website. This move follows after a BBC investigation that unearthed widespread probate fraud, particularly concerning the use of fabricated wills.

At the heart of this unfolding scandal are the persistent warnings from Fraser and Fraser, leading probate research firm, who for months had been meticulously gathering evidence of a disturbing surge in suspicious wills being presented for estates that would otherwise have ended up with the Crown as Bona Vacantia.  Their tirelessly campaigning, alerting both authorities and the wider industry to what they identified as a systemic weakness for exploitation by criminal elements, ultimately paved the way for the BBC’s investigation.

These fraudsters, it appears, have been identifying promising names on the Bona Vacantia list, swiftly producing forged wills, and then obtaining grants of probate to unlawfully claim millions from deceased individuals’ estates. The temporary removal of the unclaimed Estates list, a development that brings into sharp focus, Fraser and Fraser’s long-standing warnings.

We are, of course, happy to offer our expertise and collaborate with the Government Legal Department (GLD) in developing robust solutions. Our goal is to collectively devise strategies that will effectively protect estates and their rightful beneficiaries from fraudulent actions, ensuring the integrity of the probate system.