Family members could be entitled to a share

There are currently more than 100 unclaimed estates waiting to be inherited in Leeds.

An unclaimed estate occurs when a person dies without having left an effective will in place, and no family members have come forward to claim it. The latest figures, released by the Treasury Solicitor this week, show hundreds of estates left by people who have died in the city that are still unclaimed.

If no family comes forward, the deceased’s property becomes ‘ownerless property’ and is taken into possession by the Crown.

An unclaimed estate could be buildings, money or personal possessions | Adobe Stock

placeholder image — An unclaimed estate could be buildings, money or personal possessions | Adobe Stock

However, within a 12-year period from when the Crown possesses the estate, family members can come forward if they believe they are entitled to a share of the deceased’s relative’s property.

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For unclaimed estates before 1997, the Treasury will allow claims up to 30 years from the date of the person’s death, subject to no interest being paid on the money that is held - if the claim is received after the 12-year period has ended.

An unclaimed estate, according to the Treasury, might be any form of property, including buildings, money, or personal possessions. There are currently 103 unclaimed estates that belonged to people who died in Leeds, as of April 23.

Who is entitled to an unclaimed estate?

If someone dies without leaving a valid or effective will the following relatives are entitled to the estate in the order shown below:

Husband, wife or civil partner
Children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and so on
Mother or father
Brothers or sisters who share both the same mother and father, or their children (nieces and nephews)
Half brothers or sisters or their children (nieces and nephews of the half blood or their children). ‘Half ’ means they share only one parent with the deceased
Grandparents
Uncles and aunts or their children (first cousins or their descendants)
Half uncles and aunts or their children (first cousins of the half blood or their children). ‘Half’ means they only share one grandparent with the deceased, not both

If you are, for example, a first cousin of the deceased, you would only be entitled to share in the estate if there are no relatives above you in the order of entitlement, for example, a niece or nephew. Visit the Government website to make your claim or find out more information about the deceased.