Why Heir Searches Are Needed

Estate settlements often require locating heirs and beneficiaries who may have moved, changed names, or lost contact with the family. Probate courts require documented efforts to notify all potential heirs before distributing assets.

Heir searches are also critical for unclaimed property claims, life insurance benefits, and intestate estates where no will exists and the law determines who inherits.

Our Search Process

Our heir search combines comprehensive skip tracing with genealogical research. We start with the deceased's known relatives and use our extensive databases to trace family connections and locate current addresses for all identified heirs.

The relative and associate search is particularly valuable for heir searches, mapping family connections across multiple generations and identifying potential beneficiaries who may not be immediately obvious.

Documentation for Probate Court

Probate courts require documented evidence that all reasonable efforts were made to locate heirs. Our reports detail the search methodology, databases searched, and results obtained, providing the due diligence documentation courts require.

For estates with significant assets, thorough heir searches protect personal representatives and executors from potential liability for distributing assets without proper notification of all beneficiaries.