To think Heir Hunters (BBC1 now) is a bit ambulance chasery?

[Sparklingbrook]

It's nothing to do wioth finding 'rightful heirs, and everything to do with commission for Fraser and Fraser.

tbh I'd rather it went to the government. A charity told me once that the money was used to fund gift aid.

My mum was contacted by an heir hunter company a couple of years ago (not Fraser & Fraser, much to my disappointment!) regarding a great uncle that she never knew existed.

The estate wasn't large, and it was split dozens of ways (I think mum ended up with less than £100) but she was absolutely thrilled with all the information the company had compiled for them. Mum's grandmother had willingly disappeared when her children were young so very little was known about that branch of the family. Mum spent a lot of time on the phone to the man taking care of their case getting updates on anything relevant, and she was sent a huge family tree and has found out all sorts of fascinating things.

So, they're not all so bad after all, these people. They provide a valuable service and can care for their clients, but obviously have to get paid for their efforts.

I don't think it needs to be law. I'm married, no children yet, and an estate that would definitely be less than £250,000 (even if DH died too). If I died it would all go to DH and if both of us it would go to our parents. That's fine by us so no need to have a will.

I guess the majority of people really are in the same situation as us.

I absolutely would do it if we had a relationship breakdown, stepfamily, step-children etc.

badguider, but if you don't make a will can't anyone make a claim on your estate?

yes they can but they have to prove that they were/are a dependent on badguider in this case,

this would only tend to arise with say a step child under 18 or a vulnerable adult that deceased had cared for

the only thing is if badguider had house worth say 600,000 and they were not joint tenants then DH may have to sell to provide other heirs with their share as though they have no children he would only get first 450,000 so if most assets tied up in house might make thingss tricky to settle

most problems arise when X AND Y have 2 children( A&B); X dies Y remarries Z who already has 2 children( C&D) Y dies leaving house to Z, on Z's death C&D share estate meaning A&B get nothing , if a will had been left giving Z life time interest in Y's half of estate then on Z's death A B would inherit Y's share and C&D share Z's portion so then all 4 children have an equal share

Ooh it's on again. Lisa Faulkner is doing the voiceover as if F&F are the emergency services today.