Q. In January I was contacted by a company who said that I may be entitled to an inheritance and they would help me track it down for a 30% cut. I begrudge paying such a high percentage for something which I may be entitled to, but 30% of something is better than 100% of nothing. How does this firm know about this and is there any alternative to paying their fee?
A. Each year thousands of estates aren't claimed because, for example, the beneficiaries have died or apparently disappeared. Every Thursday, the Government (via the Treasury Solicitor's Office) publishes lists of these cases which are then scoured by probate firms who use the name of the deceased and the time and place of death to reconstruct family trees and trace those entitled. This may well be what has happened here and firms which undertake this type of work can justifiably claim that, as the government do not actively attempt to trace those entitled, they are intervening to ensure that a deceased's assets go to those entitled rather than into government coffers.
However, many feel it is unjustifiable to charge percentages for advising someone of a windfall. You could of course decline the company's 30% offer and set about doing the amateur sleuthing yourself. The internet is a fantastic resource and you may well find that you can get to the bottom of the mystery very quickly. Alternatively, there are other firms who charge on a time basis as opposed to taking a percentage (though many people equally feel uncomfortable about this as you cannot be sure what the end charge will be).
For specialist advice contact Keith Swan of Patterson, Glenton & Stracey Solicitors by email at ks@pgslaw.co.uk or by telephone on 0808 231 7043. Patterson, Glenton & Stracey Solicitors have provided legal advice to the people of South Tyneside for over 125 years. For details of their full range of services and to view previous Gazette articles please log on to www.pgslaw.co.uk . Patterson, Glenton & Stracey Solicitors: Guided by Logic.
