There are many reasons why people lose track of their family. It could be that you have no contact information, or maybe they’ve changed names and nobody knows about it. The guide below will provide helpful tips on finding lost heirs so you can finally meet your new relatives and give them their just due.

Understand the basics of a lost heir

What does the term “lost heir” mean?  A lost heir is someone who has no contact with his or her family. They might have been adopted, orphaned, taken in by another relative, or forgotten about completely.

Lost heirs complicate the dispersal of assets from a will considerably. How? When the person who’s will it is dies, assets are distributed among three groups; the spouse and children of the deceased, the parents of the deceased (who may or may not be related to them) and then other relatives of the deceased. These are usually part of the deceased’s extended family.

If there is no one falling under this category, then usually the assets go to the State. However, the deceased may name someone in their will that no one has ever heard of, or knew that they were related to. It now becomes the responsibility of the person named executor of the will to find this lost heir. This tends to drive up the cost of probating a will significantly.

Get help from an experienced attorney

As can be seen from the above, finding such a person will not be easy. This is why you should consult a lawyer to guide you through the process. An experienced attorney, particularly one at a probate research company can help you locate a lost heir using many tried and true methods at their disposal.

They usually work with the executor of an estate. The estate’s executor,  often a lawyer, but not always, is the person assigned to see that the last will and testament of the deceased is carried out. Together with the executor of an estate, the attorney will conduct a thorough search for a lost heir.

Do some research on your own

Before meeting with an attorney, it may be a good idea to do some preliminary research. There are many resources available online that might help you track down lost heirs. You can use tools like Ancestry and social media sites to find living  relatives. Websites like the International Social Security Association’s Lost Person Service can help you to find a lost heir from overseas. You can also use databases at the Public Library.

It may also help to identify the family members you know and work backwards from there. You can also search online databases of census data. Additionally, you can check with local governments to find out if they have any records on your relative’s property or taxes

If you can’t find anything with any of the above, talk to people who might have known them in the area where they lived. Finally, look at obituaries as a last resort – oftentimes there will be information about other living relatives listed on the same page.

Do DNA testing

This is something of a last resort and can only be attempted if you’ve identified a likely candidate. A DNA test will usually prove, indisputably, that this person is related to the deceased and is entitled to receive a share of their assets. It should be noted, however, that it’s important to get the consent of both parties before taking such action.

Do a thorough search for documents related to the lost heir

Once you’ve narrowed down your search to a specific individual, then it’s time to start looking for documents related to them. For example, if the person is an immigrant and their birth certificate could be found in another country, this would entitle them to receive assets from the deceased estate.

The executor of an estate should do everything they can to find documentation pertaining to these lost heirs. The process is not always easy, because sometimes, people are not as conscientious as they should be with the storage of important documents. When they die, information such as the location of critical papers often becomes lost with them.

Those living must now conduct searches of their home to find if there may be anything related to the lost heir.

Consider hiring an investigator or genealogist to find more information about your family tree

In addition to the executor and an estate or probate attorney, getting an investigator or genealogist involved in the search for a lost heir can prove to be helpful as well. These professionals might even provide a more in-depth, detailed search of the lost heir’s family tree than an attorney or executor would be able to provide.

We hope this article has helped you understand the basics of a lost heir. If you need help with anything, be sure to contact an experienced attorney or do some research on your own and consider DNA testing if needed. You may also want to hire professional investigators who specialize in genealogy for more information about your family tree.