Time running out to inherit unclaimed Hertfordshire estates – Herts Advertiser

More than 150people have died in Hertfordshire, leaving behind potential fortunes which remain unclaimed.

In three cases, in St Albans and Stevenage,less than 12 weeks remain for long-lost relatives to come forward and stake their claim.

One case will time out in just over seven weeks.

Nina TheresaSpaggiaridied on August 28, 1991, in Stevenage.

Born in France in February 1898, she married her husband GiovanniSpaggiari also known as John in Holborn in March 1921.

He died in Chelsea in 1962. No other relatives of MrsSpaggiarihave been found.

Ifher next of kin is nottracedquickly,her estate will be seized by the Crown.

Time Limit

Philip Turvey is an heir hunter.

His company, Anglia Research, searches for long-lost relatives of those who have died without a will, then helps them claim the estates in return for a commission.

They trace around 500 heirs per year through genealogy. Some estates, he said, turn out to be worth many millions.

But the heir hunters are working against the clock.

The government department will accept a claim from any relative who can prove that they have an entitlement for up to 12 years from the date of death, and pay interest, said Mr Turvey.

They will accept claims up to 30 years from the date of death, but will not pay interest."

Butoncethose30 yearsare up, the Crown will keep the estate for itself.

Herts cases

Approximately 160 peopleare known tohave died in Hertfordshire, leaving behind unclaimed estates.

There are nine in St Albans, 20 in Stevenage, 30 in Watford and 14 in Welwyn Hatfield.

Other areas, like Hitchin, Royston and Bishops Stortford, have one each.

Eight out of the nineSt Albans caseswere registered in the 1990s.

The timer on five of them will run out within the next year and on two of those,injust over twomonths.

StefanLemiszewskidied on September 17, 1991. The government was notified by the North West Herts Health Authority.

All thegovernmentknowsis that he was born in Poland in December 1910 and died, aged 81, a bachelor.

Six days after MrLemiszewskisdeath, another St Albans resident died, leaving no easily identifiable family.

Rose Rockallwas bornin March 1899andnever married. Her death was registered by Hill End Hospitalon September 23, 1991.

The day after that September 24 Cyril Stevens died in Hatfield, aged 79.

Born in Steyning, Sussex, in 1911, he married his wife Gilda on an unknown date but she died in Edmonton, Middlesex, four days before Christmas, 1952.

Government records statethat he may have blood relatives in South Africa - but if so, they must be found in the next 11 weeks.

Heir hunters like Anglia Research use genealogy to track down long-lost relatives, like BBC show Who Do You Think You Are, so they can received unclaimed estates.- Credit: Archant

Othercases are far more recent.

Brian Michael Breen died in January this year in Stevenage, aged 71. His wife Carole pre-deceased him.

Julie Eva Welch died in St Albansin February.All the authorities know about her is that she was born in 1936 in London.

Why are they unclaimed?

The first reason estates go unclaimed, said Mr Turvey, is that people fail to leave a will.

Some people dont like contemplating their possible demise, so dont want to address the issue, he explained.

Some people might not think they have anything to leave, or anyone to leave it with. Maybe they dont realise the property they bought 50 or 60 years ago is now worth a significant sum.

Most people without wills have family to take care of their affairs.

The heirhuntersstep in when thereisno will and no close family.

Perhaps they are the last of their generation still alive, said Mr Turvey. If they didnt marry or have children, their next of kin may be cousins. The last time they may have seen their cousins was when they were children.

Firmslike Anglia Research typically start with the deceased and then look for heirs, rather than helping individuals look for possible inheritances.

That would be like searching for a needle in a haystack, he said although they will represent individuals who come to them with a strong connection to a known case.

To view the register of unclaimed estates, visit:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/unclaimed-estates-list

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Time running out to inherit unclaimed Hertfordshire estates - Herts Advertiser