Centre: Daniel Curran, Finders International founder and MD flanked by (left) Anna Dunn original founder and former owner of DS Researchers, and (right) DS researchers director, Richard Eglen
East Yorkshire’s only professional ‘heir hunting’ firm – which has for nearly 30 years traced and awarded thousands of individuals with inheritance they had no idea they were due, has joined the UK’s largest probate research firm.
DS Researchers, which has since 1995 traced beneficiaries to the estates which would otherwise go to the Government - where individuals have died ‘intestate’ (where no will was left) has been acquired by Finders International, the UK’s largest probate research company, founded by celebrity heir hunter Daniel Curran, a regular on the BBC’s TV programme, Heir Hunters.
The Heir Hunters: Amazon.co.uk: Ballinger, Bill Sanborn: Books
Due to an increase in individuals living and dying along, the work ‘heir hunters’ or probate researchers has become invaluable to communities and local authorities, often whose job is becomes to trace next of kin, when individuals die without a will.
Richard Eglen, director at DS Researchers, commented: “It’s a known fact that probate research firms can’t just be taken over, like a shop or a restaurant. It takes many years to become a good probate genealogist, honing expertise, insights into society and refining killer research skills, so we’re delighted that Finders International which has become the UK’s largest and most successful firm, that has solved thousands of cases, will take care of our staff, longstanding clients and foster ever- increasing international cooperation. The expanded resources available to us will allow for there to be no stone unturned in our continuous search for beneficiaries on many cases.”
Danny Curran who is considered the spokesman of the ‘heir hunting’ industry having appeared on the BBC programme by that name, and more than 150 press articles in addition to being a regular on daytime television, commented: “Having DS Researchers join the Finders International family isn’t just about business growth, it’s about sharing of knowledge, resources and expertise in an industry which needs to constantly challenge itself to produce results for family members – to whom we have a key responsibility.International: +44 (0)20 7490 4935 | Freephone (UK only) : 0800 085 8796 | [email protected] | Visit our Irish site | Visit our AU Site
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I researched a case that involved English/Irish/American research. Multi-national research can be particularly challenging and in this instance it was no different…
Having the opportunity to reunite a large group of siblings that had been fostered out separately at very young ages after their mother died during childbirth and their father unfortunately couldn’t cope.
Receiving my first warm hearted ‘thank you’ from an heir. The inheritance they received wasn’t particularly large in terms of monetary value, but the family history recorded within the family tree we were able to provide was priceless to someone that hadn’t known that side of her ancestry.
Spoilt For Choice For Probate Researcher Membership Organisations
I researched a case that involved English/Irish/American research. Multi-national research can be particularly challenging and in this instance it was no different. The majority of the family emigrated from Ireland in the 1890s to the United States, where they then dispersed across several states and promptly lost contact with each other. I did eventually trace entitled relatives and along the way I learnt a valuable lesson or two about Irish research that I will never forget – the Irish have unusual nicknames – who knew that Delia is a nickname for Bridget or that Molly is an alternative for Josephine?! I didn’t, but I do now!!
It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come – Dalai Lama
It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come…
What Does An Heir Hunter Do?
Tracing the Italian Heirs to an estate in the UK of their half-sister they never knew existed. Their father was a POW in England and had fathered the Deceased before returning to Italy. I flew to Rome to a meeting with the 12 or so heirs who were shocked by the news, but delighted by the inheritance.
I researched a case comprising of a sizeable Estate in the UK, but the Deceased gentleman’s family were farm owners in The Ukraine. It has stuck in my mind because the research was typically difficult, given the geo-political history of the region and the pitfalls of tracing heirs overseas…
Working my first million pound case. Arranging a family reunion for the Heir Hunters show. Reaching the milestone of ten years’ service at Finders.
The Grave New World Of Heir Hunters
I researched a case comprising of a sizeable Estate in the UK, but the Deceased gentleman’s family were farm owners in The Ukraine. It has stuck in my mind because the research was typically difficult, given the geo-political history of the region and the pitfalls of tracing heirs overseas. However, we traced all the entitled family members and each of them benefited from a large windfall, at a time when the world was going through the recent recession.What does it take to be a heir hunter? Meet a man who has helped thousands of people find long lost fortunes and families
We've all read or heard stories about long lost relatives leaving huge secret inheritances, whether it is popular fiction or in real life - and sometimes, it requires detective work.
One man, turned heir hunter, has carved out an international business by putting people together with forgotten fortunes that they inherited through the death of a relative who died intestate. Or, in other words, without a will.
Trace Evidence: 2 (the Heir Hunter): Amazon.co.uk: Capri, Diane: 9781542045902: Books
It wasn't always easy though. There was a time when genealogists were not taken seriously – mainly because little was known about the profession.
Therefore Danny Curran, founder of Finders International, had no choice but to start his business from scratch using three credit cards as no bank would finance him.
Fast forward 22 years, and Danny is a regular guest on BBC's Heir Hunters - due to return to our screens soon - and his business boasts a turnover of £7million.
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Finders International hires around 100 staff across its London, Edinburgh, Dublin and Australian offices and has also launched satellite offices in the US and South Africa and is trying to expand in these markets.
It's now a highly competitive industry, which is why Danny is reluctant to talk about profits, and the probate detective services are regularly sought out by councils and solicitors that don't have the capacity, funding or manpower to do in-depth genealogical searches.
The heir hunting industry is not regulated by any official governmental bodies or agencies but it has taken steps to self-regulate and also upholds the rules of the Professional Paralegal Register.
Heir Hunters Have Helped Locate Family Of A Monaghan Woman Who Died In The Uk Without A Will.
Danny says: 'While there are plenty of cases where large estate values are discovered in the millions, in the majority of cases however individual entitlements are not likely to be large.'
But large pay outs are possible too. In one case £650, 000 was left to one individual from a relative they did not even know they had while in another a nice and aunt were reunited after three decades with a £250, 000 inheritance.
An aunt and niece were reunited after three decades after they inherited a £250, 000 inheritance when a relative died with no known next of kin.
Where There's No Will, There's Still A Way To Hunt Down Heirs
Constance was a seamstress and former Crufts Best of Breed champion. She died at the age of 89, leaving an estate worth a quarter of a million pounds that included property.
Constance's case wasn't an easy one to solve. The team at Finders International discovered that Constance was an only child, and her maiden name was Morse – a popular surname that made research challenging.
Further research revealed that David had a daughter, Danielle, but that he had left the family home when she was very young.
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Danielle, who is married with three children and living in Coventry said: 'I didn't know anything about Constance until I got the call from Finders International tell me that she had passed away and she had no living relatives.
Jacqueline, who lives in Stoke-on-Trent, says: 'When Finders International asked about Constance, I had no idea, I had never heard the name.
'It was lovely to see Danielle after all these years and hear all about her life. I'm looking forward to meeting her children too.'
Heir Hunting Team Looking For Lucky Scots
'In this case we also had the difficult news to break to Danielle – that her estranged father had died some years earlier.'
If you agree to go ahead with the investigation, they should give you a contract stating that their company will be hired to investigate and locate the inheritance.
When Finders International asked about Constance, I had no idea, I had never heard the name! You come off the phone and you can't take it all in
Philip Turvey Wins Defamation Settlement Against Daniel Curran Of Heir Hunters
If you agree to hire the company and pay the commission – which can be anything from 15-25 per cent or higher, the rest of the risk will be taken on by the heir hunter.
Danny says his average fee is 20 per cent but it
