When someone in the UK dies without a will, their money and property don’t just disappear. These unclaimed estates are listed on a government website called Bona Vacantia. This online register is updated daily and is free for anyone to search. It was designed to help legitimate heir-finding companies locate the next of kin. But now it’s being used by criminals too.
A Free List for All
With about 6,000 names on Bona Vacantia, it’s like a shopping list for fraudsters. All they need is a name and a few details to get started. By quickly creating a fake will and submitting it, they can apply for a grant of probate, the official legal document giving them control over the estate. If no one checks closely enough, they could walk away with thousands or even millions in money, property or assets.
This is especially easy when there’s no one around to question it. Many of the people on Bona Vacantia were elderly, alone or had lost contact with family over the years.
Case of Christine Harverson
In 2023, Christine Harverson died without a will, and her nieces were the rightful heirs to her estate. But a Hungarian man submitted a fake will claiming to be her close friend and almost succeeded in stealing the inheritance before being exposed – yet the authorities refused to investigate, leaving the nieces to fight the fraud themselves.
How to Protect Against This
The best way to avoid this type of fraud is to create a clear and legal will. Having your will registered officially can also help prevent someone from slipping in a fake one later. And if you’ve given someone power through an LPA online, organised by powerofattorneyonline.co.uk/, make sure it’s someone you trust.
A Loophole
Right now in the UK, if you can produce a will and apply fast, you may get access to someone’s assets without much resistance. There’s no automatic check on whether the will is real. That makes things very risky, especially when dealing with estates that don’t have obvious heirs.