The administration of Bona Vacantia estates are unique in that there is often very little information provided by the referring party about the Deceased’s assets. When involved in the administration of an estate we discover assets located with other financial institutions and organisations, whether this be bank accounts or old life insurance policies. We carry extensive searches to ensure, as best as possible, that all of the Deceased’s assets are accounted for, thereby maximising the return to you and any other beneficiaries. As far as we are aware, no other company specialising in the administration of Bona Vacantia estate administration carries out this level of investigatory work. 

At present, it appears as though the Deceased has died without making a Will. Often people have made a Will and it has been mislaid or forgotten about. We carry out a Will Search via our Harrisons Asset Search Solutions specialists, which is recognised as industry best practice in intestacy cases. Harrisons Asset Search Solutions makes enquiries with hundreds of local solicitors and Will writers located near to where the Deceased lived, to enquire whether a Will is being stored for the Deceased. Occasionally, a Will is discovered during this process.

We also insure the estate against any Will being discovered after the estate has already been distributed, or if a more closely related beneficiary comes forward, providing you as a beneficiary with greater protection.

We also protect the estate from any creditors of the estate that may come forward in the future by placing the appropriate statutory notices, protecting you and any other beneficiaries from any creditors who haven’t made themselves known to the estate.

We settle the Deceased’s tax affairs up until their date of death and deal with any inheritance tax that may be payable as a result of the Deceased’s death. We also ensure that any refund due to the Department for Work and Pensions is also dealt with.

We ensure that we locate and account for all of the beneficiaries of the estate and ensure that they have supplied the appropriate birth/death and marriage certificates that establish them as a beneficiary to the estate. 

We operate a dedicated client account. We hold the assets we collect in from the Deceased’s estate in this account. Not all estate administration companies do this.

Harrisons Probate Solutions Group has a professional indemnity insurance policy in place with XL Catlin which is underwritten by AXA Insurance UK Plc.

At the end of the administration of the estate, we prepare detailed accounts with a narrative setting out the work that we have carried out, a breakdown of all money we have collected in and paid out from the estate and a fractional entitlement diagram setting out the share each beneficiary of the estate is entitled to.

It is at this point in the process that we ask you and the other beneficiaries to approve our fees. These fees will reflect the level of work involved in terms of how much administration work was required and the number of beneficiaries. We will also ensure as best as possible to be proportionate to the overall value of the estate. 

Following successful administration and agreement from beneficiaries we will distribute the estate as stated in the provided and signed fractional entitlement diagram you would have received from Harrisons Research and Genealogy.

You and the other beneficiaries are welcome to ask us for a breakdown at the end of the administration of how we have calculated our fees.