The use of technology is permeating the practice of law at a faster pace as a result of the pandemic, as with every other aspect of our lives. However, some areas of law remain unchanged.
Other than in British Columbia, there is still no system that provides the public with easily accessible information about unclaimed property in Canada. For example, it is difficult to locate accounts in provincially regulated financial institutions like credit unions left by a deceased individual if you do not know where the deceased left the account. This is in contrast with the federally regulated Bank of Canada searchable website for banks.
In England and Wales, the list of unclaimed estates with missing heirs is now posted daily on a searchable website. Probate genealogists and individuals can search the list on the bona vacantia page of gove.uk.
In Scotland, the list provides additional information like the value of the estate, or the status of the administration of the estate, which can be found on the website: Queen’s & Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer.
Beneficiaries and heirs in the United Kingdom have the ability to search online for inheritance assets that they are legally entitled to receive and which are being held in trust for them.
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For more information on this topic please see some of our other blogs:
Reuniting forgotten dollars with their rightful owners!
“Bono Vacantia” – Latin for Ownerless Goods or Unclaimed Property