Thousands of estates are sitting unclaimed in the UK – is your family name on the list?
More than 5,700 unclaimed estates are on a government list waiting to be found by living relatives. We take a look at the list, and explain how to make a claim
More than 5,700 unclaimed estates are sitting on a government list, waiting to be found by their rightful owners.
The estates may contain property, savings, investments and valuables, and could be worth thousands, or even millions of pounds.
The list contains details such as name, date of birth, date of death, place of birth and whether they had a spouse, but it does not include the value of the estate.
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Law firm Weightmans estimates that each one could be worth £281,913, reflecting average UK house prices. This means collectively there could be a staggering £1.6 billion waiting to be claimed by a living relative.
The list of unclaimed estates is held by the Treasury Solicitor, and can usually be viewed for free on gov.uk. However, it was taken offline shortly after this article was first published on 26 June, following a BBC investigation that found a crime gang was using it to commit fraud worth millions of pounds.
The list is normally updated every working day, with newly advertised estates appearing at the top of the list.
The Ministry of Justice said it was “working with the relevant agencies to support ongoing investigations into alleged fraudulent activity”.
When MoneyWeek checked the list on 26 June, we saw a total of 5,744 unclaimed estates, with 13 new ones added that day. The deceased had been born in countries ranging from the UK and Ireland to Turkey and Hungary.
Darren Gallagher, property expert and founder of Elite Realty Invest, is urging people to check whether their family name appears, particularly as many people are unaware they may be entitled to an inheritance.
“Most people don’t know they could be the rightful heir to an estate, especially if a distant relative died without a will,” says Gallagher. “We see this time and time again – properties, cash, assets – all left in limbo because nobody thought to check.”
If a person dies without leaving a will – and there is no known next of kin – their estate is held on the unclaimed list for up to 30 years. During that time, relatives can legally claim what’s rightfully theirs.
The number of estates without a will recently hit a five-year high, leading to inheritance disputes.
In the last few years, the number of unclaimed estates has risen to 6,400.
We dig into the data and look at the estates on the list, and how to make a claim if you spot one you think you’re entitled to.
Most common surnames with unclaimed estates
Certain surnames appear more frequently than others on the unclaimed estates list, so it could be worth checking the list if you have one of these family names.
Here are the top 10 surnames with unclaimed estates:
Rank |
Surname |
Approx. number of unclaimed estates |
1 |
Smith |
129 |
2 |
Jones |
86 |
3 |
Taylor |
54 |
4 |
Brown |
50 |
5 |
Williams |
45 |
6 |
Johnson |
40 |
7 |
Davies |
38 |
8 |
Evans |
35 |
9 |
Thomas |
33 |
10 |
Roberts |
30 |
Source: Elite Realty Invest. As at April 2025
Separate analysis by Weightmans last year reveals the regions with the most unclaimed estates. London towers over other UK regions with a staggering 1,775 estates, highlighting a significant amount of wealth and legacy left unclaimed in the capital.
According to Weightmans, this high number “reflects the vast and diverse population of the city, along with the complexities and anonymity that urban life can foster”.
Surrey follows as a distant second with 290 unclaimed estates, suggesting that even in more affluent areas, many assets still fail to reach their rightful heirs.
West Yorkshire takes the third spot with 261 unclaimed estates, and Kent and Essex round out the top five, with 229 and 210 unclaimed estates respectively.
You can search the list by family name, region, and other details like alias, partner, date of adoption and even religion.
When MoneyWeek checked the list on 26 June, we found a wide range of countries where the deceased had been born, such as Palestine, Congo, India, Malaysia and the Seychelles. It’s possible some of them may have lost touch with relatives since moving to the UK.
Some entries on the list contain extra details like “possible cousin in Nigeria”, "deceased was born illegitimate”, “deceased may have had four daughters and a brother – no further information known” and “deceased's wife and children are believed to have been killed in a traffic accident in the 1960s/1970s”.
Unclaimed estates added on 26 June include Betty Joan Beattie (from Kent), Alain Butez (London) and David O'Neill (North Yorkshire).
What is the unclaimed estates list?
When someone in the UK passes away without a will and any known heirs, their estate enters the realm of “Bona Vacantia”, which is Latin for “ownerless goods”.
This legal process is managed by the Bona Vacantia Division (BVD) of the Government Legal Department. The division helps to ensure that any assets without a clear heir are not left in indefinite limbo.
According to Weightmans, the BVD conducts a thorough investigation to locate any potential heirs. This includes reviewing the deceased's family and financial history and potentially working with genealogists and researchers.
If no will is discovered and no heirs are found, the estate is then listed publicly, providing an opportunity for anyone who believes they might have a claim – usually relatives – to come forward.
Estates remain on the unclaimed list for up to 30 years. If, after 30 years, no rightful heir has been identified, the estate permanently reverts to the Crown. The assets may then be used for public benefit.
Note that interest is paid on estates by the BVD if the estate is claimed within 12 years. If it is after 12 years, no interest is paid.
Who is eligible to make a claim?
If someone dies without leaving a valid or effective will (known as “intestate”), the following are entitled to the estate in this order:
- Husband, wife or civil partner
- Children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and so on
- Mother or father
- Brothers or sisters who share both the same mother and father, or their children (nieces and nephews)
- Half brothers or sisters or their children (nieces and nephews of the half blood or their children). “Half” means they share only one parent with the deceased
- Grandparents
- Uncles and aunts or their children (first cousins or their descendants)
- Half uncles and aunts or their children (first cousins of the half blood or their children). “Half” means they only share one grandparent with the deceased, not both
If you are, for example, a first cousin of the deceased, you would only be entitled to share in the estate if there are no relatives above you in the order of entitlement, such as a niece or nephew, according to the BVD.
There is lots more information about this on the BVD webpage.
How to claim an unclaimed estate
If you think you are entitled to an unclaimed estate, the first thing to do is dig out a family tree.
You’ll need to send this in, which shows how you are related to the person who has died, and include the dates of birth, marriage and death of all those on the tree.
If it appears you may be able to claim the estate, BVD will then ask you to supply documentary evidence that proves your entitlement.
This includes full birth certificates (showing the parents’ names) and marriage certificates of each person between you and the deceased (including yours and the deceased’s), plus ID documents for yourself, among other things.
There’s guidance on the “Make a claim to a deceased person’s estate” government webpage.
It’s important you submit all the correct information. If you provide an incomplete claim, and this is followed by a fully documented claim from someone else, the fully documented claim will be dealt with.
It is possible to work out if you’re eligible and complete the claim yourself. However, the BVD advises that if required, you should seek your own independent legal advice from a qualified solicitor, your local law centre or Citizens Advice Bureau.
Note that if you use a law firm or any sort of claims company, there will be a fee to pay, which could be a percentage of the estate.
How to ensure your estate is claimed
The simplest way to ensure your estate doesn’t end up on the unclaimed estates list is to make a will.
This is especially important if you have few or no living relatives, as, without a will, your estate could potentially become unclaimed and revert to state ownership.
Erin Duffy, head of personal litigation at Palmers Solicitors, says there’s also a “legal gap that leaves cohabiting partners without protection if their partner dies without a will”.
She comments: “I had a case where my client had lived with her partner for a long time in his home. He died without a will, with no children, no parents, and no other living family, so his estate passed to the Crown as Bona Vacantia.
“As a cohabitee (not a spouse or civil partner), she would have inherited nothing from his estate and faced losing her home. Fortunately, I was able to negotiate a settlement with the BVD of the Government Legal Department without needing to go to court.”
In your will, you can specify who should inherit your assets. This can include family members, friends and charities.
Find out more in our guides: Why you should write a will — and how to do it for free and Will-writing services rated for customer service.
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Ruth is an award-winning financial journalist with more than 15 years' experience of working on national newspapers, websites and specialist magazines.
She is passionate about helping people feel more confident about their finances. She was previously editor of Times Money Mentor, and prior to that was deputy Money editor at The Sunday Times.
A multi-award winning journalist, Ruth started her career on a pensions magazine at the FT Group, and has also worked at Money Observer and Money Advice Service.
Outside of work, she is a mum to two young children, while also serving as a magistrate and an NHS volunteer.