You could be eligible for a surprise windfall

More than 100 estates belonging to people who have died without a known heir are currently unclaimed in Leeds – and your surname could help you discover whether you are entitled to a share of the money.

The latest figures from the Treasury Solicitor show there are 101 unclaimed estates linked to Leeds, as of Sunday, November 1.

The estates belong to people who died without leaving an effective will and whose relatives have not come forward to claim their inheritance.

There are more than 100 unclaimed estates linked to Leeds (stock image for illustrative purposes) | Simon Hulme

placeholder image — There are more than 100 unclaimed estates linked to Leeds (stock image for illustrative purposes) | Simon Hulme

When someone dies without a valid will, their estate is distributed according to strict rules governing which relatives are entitled to inherit.

If no eligible family members can be found, the estate becomes what is known as 'ownerless property' and is taken into the possession of the Crown.

However, relatives who believe they may be entitled to an inheritance can still come forward.

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In most cases, claims can be made within 12 years of the Crown taking possession of an estate. For estates dating back to before 1997, the Treasury can consider claims for up to 30 years after the person's death, although interest will not be paid on money claimed after the initial 12-year period.

An unclaimed estate can include money, property, buildings and personal possessions.

Which surnames are on the Leeds unclaimed estates list?

The Treasury Solicitor's latest list includes the following surnames linked to unclaimed estates in Leeds:

Majczak
Arnold
Avalon
Beaumont
Belaj
Bell
Birkett
Bousbouras
Brierley
Browne
Bryll
Burnham
Carter
Catton
Clifford
Cole
Cullum
Czyz
Davies
Dingle
Dolan
Duggan
Dzenis
Ellis
Ellis
Fiscor
Fitzgerald
Fleming
Fletcher
Gilmore
Gilroy
Habshaw
Hammond
Hanson
Hart
Henderson
Higgins
Holdsworth
Howden
Hudson
Hurcombe
Igwe
Jackson-Ward
Jones
Karklinis
Kmet
Kutkevicius
Landy
Lewis
Makin
McBride
McDermott
McGee
McKean
McLaren
Miskiw
Moore
Morris
Mullan
Murphy
Murray
O'Brien
O'Hosi
O'Shea
O'Sullivan
Petters
Podola
Raudsepp
Rhodes
Rooney
Sambi
Samuel
Scott
Singh
Smith
Smith
Stewart
Stinson
Szostak
Taylor
Thompson
Thornton-Soothill
Todd
Voulgaris
Watson
Whelan
Winfield
Yusuff
Cooke
Barker
Devlin
Evans
Kruger
Isaacs
James
Jones
Jones
Smith
Taylor
Davis
Gates

Who can claim an unclaimed estate?

There is a strict order of priority when it comes to inheriting from someone who dies without a valid will.

The order is:

Husband, wife or civil partner
Children or their descendants
Mother or father
Brothers or sisters, or their descendants (nieces and nephews)
Half-brothers or half-sisters, or their descendants
Grandparents
Uncles and aunts, or their descendants (first cousins)
Half-uncles and half-aunts, or their descendants

To qualify, you must be a direct descendant of one of the deceased person's grandparents, with no surviving relatives higher up the order of entitlement.

Second cousins are not entitled to inherit under the intestacy rules.

If a relative who was entitled to inherit survived the deceased but has since died, their personal representative can make a claim on their behalf.

Anyone who believes they could be entitled to an unclaimed estate should seek independent legal advice if they are unsure.

The Treasury Solicitor also advises people to provide a family tree showing how they are related to the deceased, including the full names and dates of birth and death of family members.