When someone dies with no will or known family, their property passes to the Crown as ownerless property (or 'bona vacantia') . It can be any kind of property, like buildings, money or personal possessions.

You could be entitled to a share of a deceased relative's property (‘estate’) if you’re a relative.

How to claim

1. Check if the estate is listed with the Crown.

2. Make sure you're an entitled relative.

3. Make a claim on the estate.

If an estate is not listed, you can tell the Crown about an estate you think is unclaimed.

If you’re not a relative

You can apply for a grant from the estate if you think you may be entitled to a share of a deceased person’s estate (eg if you lived together or you cared for them).

The Treasury Solicitor’s Department handles bona vacantia in England and Wales (except in the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster).

There's a list of unclaimed estates and some frequently-asked questions from the Treasury Solicitor's Department.

Adverts and claims

The Treasury Solicitor advertises to find entitled family. If you reply to an advert, you have to prove your relationship with the deceased, eg with a birth, marriage or death certificate.

Other bodies that represent the Crown

Elsewhere, bona vacantia is dealt with by:

• in the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster - Farrer and Co
• in Scotland - The Queen’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer
• in Northern Ireland - phone the Crown Solicitor’s Office for Northern Ireland

Crown Solicitor's Office for Northern Ireland
Telephone: 028 9054 6037
Find out about call charges

You need to know if you’re entitled before making a claim on an estate. The general rules are:

• if there’s no will, the person’s spouse or civil partner and then any children have first claim to the estate
• if there’s no spouse or child, anyone descended from a grandparent of the person is entitled to a share in the estate
• if you’re related by marriage you have no entitlement

Find out if you're entitled to a share of the estate.

Adopted people

If you’re adopted:

• you have the same rights as if you’d been born into your adoptive family
• you have no rights to an estate of your original birth family

Only the adoptive family have rights to the estate if the deceased person was adopted.

If you think you’re entitled to an estate in England and Wales (but not Cornwall or Lancashire):

1. Find the estate

2. On the results page, click on the person's surname. This will open the claim form.

3. Fill in your details and submit.

If you can’t find the estate

Email the Treasury Solicitor to see if they have dealt with the estate.

Treasury Solicitor's Office
bvinfo@tsol.gsi.gov.uk

In the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster, Scotland or Northern Ireland

Contact the relevant body representing the Crown.

Evidence you need

You’ll be asked to send a family tree showing your relationship and 2 pieces of identification:

• 1 showing your name
• 1 showing your name and address, dated within the last 3 months

You might also be asked to send birth, death or marriage certificates.

If you know someone who has died with no will or known blood relatives, you can tell one of the bodies representing the Crown about their estate.

You should only refer an estate if:

• the person didn’t leave a will – you should try to contact the executor and beneficiaries
• you tried and failed get in touch with any blood relatives entitled to the estate
• the person left more funds than debt – otherwise the estate is ‘insolvent’

How to refer an estate

In England and Wales (except the Duchies of Cornwall or Lancaster), you can download the forms to refer the estate.

The Treasury Solicitor only handles estates worth £500 or more.

In Scotland, Northern Ireland or the Duchies of Cornwall or Lancaster contact the relevant body representing the Crown.

You can apply for a grant from a deceased person’s estate if you could have expected to benefit from it. This could be where you:

• provided the person with free services like washing, cleaning, cooking, shopping, home repairs or care where they might otherwise have had to pay
• lived together with the person (as their partner or as a friend) but were not married
• represent a charity or other body that cared for the person at considerable expense

You don't have to be related to the person to apply.

How to apply

In England and Wales (but not Cornwall or Lancashire) apply to the Treasury Solicitor.

Contact the Treasury Solicitor’s Office stating that you’re claiming a ‘discretionary grant’, including as much supporting information as possible.

Treasury Solicitor's Department
Bona Vacantia Division (BVD)
PO Box 70165
London
WC1A 9HG

Treasury Solicitor's Office
bvinfo@tsol.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone: 0207 210 4700
Fax: 0207 210 3104
Find out about call charges

In Cornwall, Lancashire, Scotland or Northern Ireland, apply to the relevant body representing the Crown.