Episode 13

Synopsis

When someone dies without leaving a will and there is no known relative to inherit, Her Majesty's Treasury takes the money. Unless, that is, the Heir Hunters or probate detectives can find previously unknown family members, in the small window of time they are allowed.

If they do and can get them to sign a contract, they get a lucrative commission on estates that are often worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. The lucky heirs receive money they never knew could be theirs, and set about planning how to spend their windfalls.

In this series, we follow a well-established firm of heir hunters, Fraser and Fraser, and some of their rivals, as they race to find any heirs and sign them up before the competition. In the process, they reunite long lost family members and find lots of skeletons, in lots of cupboards.

The programme also gives details of hundreds of unclaimed estates worth millions of pounds, and invites viewers to contact the Heir Hunters website if they think they may have a claim to some of the money.

Phyllis Broadwick left 200,000 pounds and the heir hunters compete to find a surviving relative before the Treasury takes it. Plus, the man who gave hot news the cold shoulder, and details of other unclaimed estates worth 729,000 pounds.

Credits

Producer

Hugh Dehn

Executive Producer

Roger Bolton

Broadcasts

1. Wed 20 Jun 2007
   09:15
   BBC One (except London)
2. Thu 17 Jan 2008
   03:00
   BBC One (London only)
3. Wed 6 Aug 2008
   09:15
   BBC One (except East, Oxfordshire, West)
4. Wed 21 Oct 2009
   19:30
   BBC Two (England, Scotland, Wales only)