0:00:02 > 0:00:08Heir hunters spend their lives tracking down the families of people who've died without leaving a will.
0:00:08 > 0:00:13They hand over thousands of pounds to long-lost relatives who had no idea they were in for a windfall.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15Could they be knocking at your door?
0:00:33 > 0:00:37On today's programme, emotions run high for one lucky lady.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39I just sort of started shaking.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42It was totally out of the blue.
0:00:42 > 0:00:47And a knock on the door from Heir Hunters brings more than just money to this pensioner.
0:00:47 > 0:00:55It's great news to me to know that there is somebody still around
0:00:55 > 0:01:00that I can say is a relative.
0:01:00 > 0:01:06Plus a list of unclaimed estates worth nearly £700,000.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10Maybe you could help crack a case and find some missing heirs.
0:01:17 > 0:01:22Every year, over 300,000 people die without leaving a will.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26When no family is found, their money goes to the government.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29That's when the heir hunting companies step in.
0:01:29 > 0:01:30They race against each other
0:01:30 > 0:01:33to be the first to track down any long-lost relatives
0:01:33 > 0:01:35entitled to inherit.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41Fraser & Fraser is one of the oldest firms of heir hunters in Britain.
0:01:41 > 0:01:42So, Milly or Ruby?
0:01:42 > 0:01:46In its 30-year history, the company has grabbed back
0:01:46 > 0:01:48over £100million from the government
0:01:48 > 0:01:51and given it back to over 50,000 heirs.
0:01:57 > 0:02:02It's 7.00am Thursday in Fraser & Fraser's London office.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04It's a crucial time for the heir hunters
0:02:04 > 0:02:08as the government has just released the weekly list
0:02:08 > 0:02:11of those who've died with no known heirs.
0:02:11 > 0:02:12Where's my toast?
0:02:12 > 0:02:16Leading the troops today is case manager David Pacifico
0:02:16 > 0:02:18who, after 37 years in the job,
0:02:18 > 0:02:21has still not got used to the seven o'clock start.
0:02:21 > 0:02:26David has looked down the list and selected a case to investigate.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28This is a possibility.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32Surname Bevan, looks like he's born in Wales.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37The government doesn't disclose the value of any of the cases,
0:02:37 > 0:02:39but David is hoping the Bevan estate
0:02:39 > 0:02:41will be worth the most amount of money on the list
0:02:41 > 0:02:45as Frasers works on commission and gets a cut from heirs who sign up.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50Might be all right, but we're still not certain.
0:02:50 > 0:02:55He's guessing the value is high because Bryan Bevan died in Bedford
0:02:55 > 0:03:00which is a wealthy area with many expensive properties, and Bryan Bevan might even have owned one.
0:03:00 > 0:03:06Still a question mark, but it's a good area and so it's worth, I think, looking at it.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10It's not much to go on, but that's normal for the heir hunters.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12During the course of the day,
0:03:12 > 0:03:15they have to collect as much information as possible
0:03:15 > 0:03:18about Bryan Bevan so they can build a family tree,
0:03:18 > 0:03:22working out generation by generation who he is related to
0:03:22 > 0:03:24and who's in line to inherit.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32There's only so much they can find out from the comfort of the office,
0:03:32 > 0:03:34so as well as its research team,
0:03:34 > 0:03:37Fraser & Fraser also employ a squadron of travelling heir hunters.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40They spend their Thursdays at the wheel of their cars,
0:03:40 > 0:03:43ready to go wherever the search takes them.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46- Do you know where James Donovan Court is?- Just there.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49Oh. Thank you. Cheers.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52Their job is to follow up new leads and sniff out fresh clues.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54It's highly competitive
0:03:54 > 0:03:58as they need to get to any heirs and make a deal before their rivals.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00If I don't knock on the door first
0:04:00 > 0:04:04then a competitor will.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07The travelling heir hunter put onto the Bevan case
0:04:07 > 0:04:09is Birmingham-based Paul Matthews.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13If it's hard for us, it's hard for other companies as well.
0:04:13 > 0:04:18Today his first instruction has been to drive towards south Wales,
0:04:18 > 0:04:20the birthplace of Bryan Bevan.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22He was actually born in Pontypridd,
0:04:22 > 0:04:26which obviously, any family members, they'll stem from there
0:04:26 > 0:04:29so hopefully get up to date early doors.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32It's a bit of a steal on the competition if we're there doing it.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36Paul's job on arrival will be to collect
0:04:36 > 0:04:39Bryan Bevan's birth certificate from the local register office
0:04:39 > 0:04:44which will give the heir hunters the concrete information they crucially need.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46We've got to get the right birth of the deceased.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49That's always the starting point because obviously,
0:04:49 > 0:04:52you've got to have the right family
0:04:52 > 0:04:55before you go down the tree and trace all the relatives.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59But of course, without knowing the value of Bryan Bevan's estate,
0:04:59 > 0:05:02it could be a lot of effort for very little reward.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05It's still very much hit and miss so I could be coming down here
0:05:05 > 0:05:09on what's a fool's errand because it's not worth the petrol money to come down.
0:05:09 > 0:05:13But by the same standard, it could be a very big estate.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20All that is known about Bryan Bevan
0:05:20 > 0:05:22is that his funeral was arranged by the state
0:05:22 > 0:05:25and the service was led by local vicar, Cyril Harris.
0:05:25 > 0:05:31I was asked to arrange the funeral because, to my surprise,
0:05:31 > 0:05:34there were no relatives and that exercised my mind considerably
0:05:34 > 0:05:41simply because here was a man who, quite clearly, had made a great contribution to life.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45We tried to find out who had worked with him, but to no avail.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48It saddened me to think that such a person
0:05:48 > 0:05:50should end up with no relatives,
0:05:50 > 0:05:53no-one really to say we loved you and to move on.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56It's up to Frasers' research director Gareth Langford
0:05:56 > 0:06:00to tease out more information about Bryan Bevan's family.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03The most useful thing would be the names of his parents,
0:06:03 > 0:06:07but with dozens of people listed under the surname Bevan,
0:06:07 > 0:06:09they aren't going to be easy to find.
0:06:09 > 0:06:14Gareth trawls through Frasers' huge database of marriage records hoping for a clue.
0:06:14 > 0:06:19Suddenly, he comes across two names that stand out.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23Could these be Bryan Bevan's parents and the team's first breakthrough of the day?
0:06:23 > 0:06:27At the moment, we're speculatively looking at parents of Bryan Bevan
0:06:27 > 0:06:30who are possibly Gomer and Jessie Williams,
0:06:30 > 0:06:32but it is complete guesswork.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34Bevan appears to be a Pontypridd name,
0:06:34 > 0:06:37so we've no idea really who the parents are.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40It's just an educated guess that we quite like this one.
0:06:40 > 0:06:42The team won't know for sure
0:06:42 > 0:06:45whether these people are Bryan Bevan's parents
0:06:45 > 0:06:49until Paul Matthews gets the birth certificate from Pontypridd.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51But if the names are right,
0:06:51 > 0:06:54it could give them a head start in front of their rivals.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56If we don't work this and it is right
0:06:56 > 0:07:00and somebody else has worked it and beat us to it then, um,
0:07:00 > 0:07:02you know, that's not good.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06So we're working it, basically, in case somebody else works it.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10Gareth's speculative family tree now shows Bryan Bevan
0:07:10 > 0:07:12as the son of a Gomer Bevan and a Jessie Williams.
0:07:16 > 0:07:21It's now nearly 10am and case manager David is getting edgy.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24He wants to know if Gareth's guesswork is correct
0:07:24 > 0:07:25by getting proof from Paul.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29But how soon will the travelling heir hunter get the evidence?
0:07:29 > 0:07:31- Hello.- Hello, Paul. Hi, it's David.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34- Hi, David.- Just want to check whereabouts you are.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37Well, I'm about 30 miles from Pontypridd.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41Paul's pulled over because he's hit a problem.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44- Found the register office on the way here.- Oh, you have, yeah?- Yeah.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48The lady's checked. They're saying that birth is not there.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52Apparently Caerphilly, which is a bit further on,
0:07:52 > 0:07:56um, they've got a birth of a Bryan Bevan and they're going to check,
0:07:56 > 0:07:57see if it's the one we want.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00Until Paul gets the certificate,
0:08:00 > 0:08:04all the office can do is make guesses about Bryan Bevan.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07But then Gareth has an idea.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09Gomer Bevan is a very unusual name.
0:08:09 > 0:08:14In fact, there is only one listing of it in the Frasers' birth records.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18This means Gareth has something solid to research.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20By cross-referencing names and birth records,
0:08:20 > 0:08:24he quickly works out that Gomer had three siblings,
0:08:24 > 0:08:26Elizabeth, Philip and Olwyn.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29Philip had a son, David, who died in 2004,
0:08:29 > 0:08:32but David's wife Elani Bevan is still alive.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35- David.- Hi, Gareth.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38Right, we've got the widow of, er...
0:08:38 > 0:08:40- David.- David.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42And there's her phone number.
0:08:42 > 0:08:47OK, so this, possibly, is a cousin by marriage of the deceased.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49But obviously based on the fact,
0:08:49 > 0:08:53do we have the right parents of the deceased?
0:08:53 > 0:08:55If the team can get hold of Elani Bevan,
0:08:55 > 0:08:57she might be able to tell them
0:08:57 > 0:09:01whether Gomer really was the father of Bryan Bevan.
0:09:01 > 0:09:02Hello, Mrs Bevan?
0:09:02 > 0:09:06We're trying to trace a particular family by the name of Bevan,
0:09:06 > 0:09:08from the Pontypridd area.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12I'm not sure whether or not we've got the right family,
0:09:12 > 0:09:14but were you married to a David Bevan?
0:09:14 > 0:09:20The heir hunters are in luck. But can Elani Bevan tell them anything about her husband's Uncle Gomer?
0:09:20 > 0:09:22Do you know anything about Gomer,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25in as much as any family he may have had?
0:09:25 > 0:09:28Right. Do you know anything at all about this son -
0:09:28 > 0:09:33name, or what happened to the son or anything like that? Right.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36Did he stay in Wales, or...?
0:09:36 > 0:09:39Getting hold of Elani Bevan is a great result for the heir hunters.
0:09:39 > 0:09:43The phone call reveals that Gomer Bevan did have a son,
0:09:43 > 0:09:46an only child, and that he moved away from Wales.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48The heir hunters now feel pretty sure
0:09:48 > 0:09:51that they are onto the right family.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57Now David's hoping Mrs Bevan might be able to lead them to some heirs.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59Only blood relatives are entitled,
0:09:59 > 0:10:02so she won't be in line for any money herself.
0:10:02 > 0:10:07Any surviving blood relations of the Bevan family
0:10:07 > 0:10:11we believe could have an interest or an entitlement to a share in this estate.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15Right, I was going to ask you if your husband had any children.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17His name is Hugh?
0:10:17 > 0:10:19The team have struck gold.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23Elani Bevan's son Hugh is a blood relative of Bryan Bevan,
0:10:23 > 0:10:26giving Fraser & Fraser their very first heir.
0:10:29 > 0:10:30Whereabouts is he, actually?
0:10:30 > 0:10:34Having a name is one thing, but getting in touch is another.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36He's in Singapore?
0:10:36 > 0:10:39It's a bit too far to send travelling heir hunter Paul,
0:10:39 > 0:10:44so in this instance, Hugh will have to be signed up by return post.
0:10:44 > 0:10:49Elani Bevan also thinks there might be another surviving blood relative.
0:10:49 > 0:10:50A cousin, Joyce.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53What was Joyce's married name, then, do you remember?
0:10:53 > 0:10:55Holderness.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57If the team can find Joyce,
0:10:57 > 0:11:00she'll be the second heir to Bryan Bevan's estate.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03Many, many thanks, Mrs Bevan.
0:11:03 > 0:11:04Thank you. Bye-bye.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09It's great news.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13Providing the parents names on Bryan Bevan's birth certificate do match,
0:11:13 > 0:11:14the team have just found two heirs,
0:11:14 > 0:11:18a cousin and a cousin once removed.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20- I reckon it's right.- Mmm.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25Coming up, Paul finally gets to the register office,
0:11:25 > 0:11:30but will the information on Bryan Bevan's birth certificate prove the heir hunters correct?
0:11:30 > 0:11:32Check the details.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35And will their hard work be for nothing
0:11:35 > 0:11:39when they find out the real value of Bryan Bevan's estate?
0:11:39 > 0:11:42It's probably worth ten pence, this job, anyway, Dave.
0:11:42 > 0:11:43HE LAUGHS
0:11:48 > 0:11:53Heir hunting is a profession which takes expertise to do well,
0:11:53 > 0:11:56but sometimes, amateur sleuths can help crack a case.
0:11:56 > 0:12:02Do you have any information that could help find heirs for these unclaimed estates?
0:12:02 > 0:12:06Mieczyslaw Meczyk died in Hammersmith, London,
0:12:06 > 0:12:08in February 2007 aged 73.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12He left an estate worth a massive half a million pounds.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15Are you his relative and in line for a fortune?
0:12:15 > 0:12:20Anthony Sleet died in Southampton in December 2006.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24He was 82 and left an estate worth £28,000.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Are you part of Anthony's family?
0:12:27 > 0:12:29Do you know someone who is?
0:12:29 > 0:12:34Leila Connell died in Brighton in May 2005, aged 98.
0:12:34 > 0:12:38Leila left an estate worth £20,000.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40Are you a member of her family?
0:12:40 > 0:12:42Could you be an heir?
0:12:42 > 0:12:46If you think you might be entitled to any of these unclaimed estates,
0:12:46 > 0:12:52take a look at our website -
0:13:01 > 0:13:04In central London, Fraser & Fraser are continuing
0:13:04 > 0:13:08their investigation into the unclaimed estate of Bryan Bevan.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12We're speculatively looking at parents of Bryan Bevan
0:13:12 > 0:13:15who are possibly Gomer and Jessie Williams.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18The team may well have just found their first two heirs,
0:13:18 > 0:13:23but they need proof from Paul Matthews before they can be sure.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27Hi, Paul. Just wondering how close you are to Caerphilly.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30I've just arrived. Just putting the form in.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33Right because, um, if the parents' names that we've got is right,
0:13:33 > 0:13:37it's up to date, with two people on that side of the family.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41- Oh, right.- So I'll hang fire until you come back to me.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43- OK, then. Cheers, Dave. - Thanks, Paul.- Bye.- Bye.
0:13:45 > 0:13:50Paul puts in a request for Bryan Bevan's birth certificate, and now it's a waiting game.
0:13:50 > 0:13:51OK, thanks a lot.
0:13:54 > 0:14:00Will the certificate give the heir hunters the names they so desperately want...
0:14:00 > 0:14:01Check the details.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04..and prove that Bryan Bevan's parents really are
0:14:04 > 0:14:06Gomer Bevan and Jessie Williams?
0:14:08 > 0:14:12Well, I've got the birth of the deceased now.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14It confirms that it's exactly the same date
0:14:14 > 0:14:17and confirms the mum's maiden name was Williams.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20So, looks good to me.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23- Hello.- Hello, Dave. Paul.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26- Hello.- Got that birth for you. - Good. Tell me the good news.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28Dad is Gomer Bevan.
0:14:28 > 0:14:33- Yeah.- Mum is Jessie Bevan, formerly Williams.- Yeah.- And that's it.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35- Is it looking good?- It does.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37It's great news for the heir hunters.
0:14:37 > 0:14:38They now know for sure
0:14:38 > 0:14:42that they've got two heirs from Bryan Bevan's father's side.
0:14:44 > 0:14:45But it's not over yet.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49The team now need to research Bryan Bevan's mother's family.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53David asks Paul to try to find Jessie Williams' birth certificate.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55Because without that,
0:14:55 > 0:14:58we obviously can't identify the Williams side.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01The maternal side of Bryan Bevan's family
0:15:01 > 0:15:03is going to be much harder to track down
0:15:03 > 0:15:07as Williams is the third most common surname in the country.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09The Williams name is very, very bad,
0:15:09 > 0:15:13but we know the quarter and we know the area where the birth came out
0:15:13 > 0:15:18so hopefully, we can, with the help of the registry office staff, just narrow it down.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22With Paul left looking for Williams needles in Welsh haystacks,
0:15:22 > 0:15:25David gets back to the Bevan side and finds a phone number
0:15:25 > 0:15:28for the person he hopes is Bryan's cousin Joyce.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31Hello, Mrs Holderness?
0:15:31 > 0:15:35Would I be right in saying that you would have been Joyce Parsons?
0:15:35 > 0:15:37And you also had an Uncle Gomer?
0:15:37 > 0:15:40Right. Do you remember his son at all?
0:15:40 > 0:15:45Joyce's answers persuade David that she is person he's been looking for.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47Unfortunately, he's now passed away.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50He was an only child and we don't think he was married
0:15:50 > 0:15:53and we've been trying to track down his next of kin
0:15:53 > 0:15:55which would be, of course, yourself,
0:15:55 > 0:15:59also David's son Hugh, because he's a blood relation.
0:15:59 > 0:16:04As Bryan's cousin, Joyce is entitled to some of his unclaimed estate,
0:16:04 > 0:16:07but unfortunately for the heir hunters,
0:16:07 > 0:16:10Joyce isn't keen to sign up with Frasers
0:16:10 > 0:16:13or take the inheritance process any further.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17She does, however, tell them some more information about Bryan Bevan.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20That he was a bachelor and that he had been ordained.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23In fact, he taught theology at a local university.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25She mentioned he wasn't married, he was gay.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28She thought he may have been living with somebody,
0:16:28 > 0:16:32but he travelled an awful lot and wasn't approved by his family
0:16:32 > 0:16:36because he was gay and this is the old story, you know?
0:16:36 > 0:16:39This call helps the heir hunters understand
0:16:39 > 0:16:42why Bryan Bevan might have lost touch with his family.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48At the register office, Paul has just got his hands
0:16:48 > 0:16:52on the birth certificate of Jessie Williams, mother of Bryan.
0:16:52 > 0:16:53Hello, Dave. Paul.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57- Right, she's plain Jessie.- Yeah.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00Dad's John Williams.
0:17:00 > 0:17:01And the mother?
0:17:01 > 0:17:04Amelia Williams, formerly James.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08- This could be right. - Oh, that's good, then.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11David is pleased with the progress so far,
0:17:11 > 0:17:15but because they still don't know the value of Bryan Bevan's estate,
0:17:15 > 0:17:19the heir hunters are unsure if this case is going to be worth the hard work.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22We're still trying to glean how big the estate is.
0:17:22 > 0:17:27We think there is money there, although I'm not sure how much,
0:17:27 > 0:17:31which still concerns me, because you know it might still be small.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38He decides to call up travelling heir hunter Ewart Lindsay,
0:17:38 > 0:17:40who covers the south east region.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42Ewart is asked to head to Bedford
0:17:42 > 0:17:45to find out more about Bryan Bevan's pad.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48- So do we know if he actually owned the property or not? - We're not sure.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52- That's why we'd like more of an enquiry done.- Yeah, OK. Fine.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56He died 27th of February, 2007.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00Now, the cousin I've spoken to mentioned that the deceased was gay
0:18:00 > 0:18:05and she thought he may have been living with somebody. I think he was a reverend as well.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07We want to know a little bit more
0:18:07 > 0:18:10about if he owned the property, anything else,
0:18:10 > 0:18:13and if his partner's still there, any information you can convene.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16- OK, Dave, thank you very much. - OK. Catch up with you later.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18- Bye.- OK, bye.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23And there's no rest for Gareth.
0:18:23 > 0:18:27He now cross-references the home address from Jessie Williams' birth certificate
0:18:27 > 0:18:30with a population survey taken a year before her birth.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34This is the 1901 census of the Williams family,
0:18:34 > 0:18:36so we've got the grandfather and grandmother
0:18:36 > 0:18:41of the deceased here - John and Amelia Williams.
0:18:41 > 0:18:47Also in the census we've got a David, an Arthur, a Stanley,
0:18:47 > 0:18:49a George and a Tudor.
0:18:49 > 0:18:55I've also got here the 1891 census and we've got a Sarah Maria as well.
0:18:55 > 0:19:02The team now know that Bryan Bevan's mother Jessie had six siblings.
0:19:02 > 0:19:06But knowing their names doesn't mean they will be easy to find.
0:19:06 > 0:19:13Williams is quite a common name, but in Wales it's a very common name
0:19:13 > 0:19:19so we've got Christian names of...David,
0:19:19 > 0:19:23so we're looking for a David Williams born in Pontypridd
0:19:23 > 0:19:27and that's going to be around 1886.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31There's going to be four or five David Williams
0:19:31 > 0:19:33born in Pontypridd around that time.
0:19:33 > 0:19:38Luckily, the heir hunters have yet more resources to help them out.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41Five minutes from their offices is the probate registry,
0:19:41 > 0:19:46which stores every will in the UK submitted since 1858.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48If any of the Williams clan left a will,
0:19:48 > 0:19:51this could provide some vital information.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54From our point of view it's often very useful
0:19:54 > 0:19:58because it mentions family, and it can be very useful
0:19:58 > 0:20:00if it mentions people's married names
0:20:00 > 0:20:03or their grandchildren or even their great grandchildren.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05So it's a very useful thing for us.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09But it will take some time for the team to get hold of any wills,
0:20:09 > 0:20:10if they exist at all.
0:20:15 > 0:20:20It's now 4pm and Ewart has just arrived at Bryan Bevan's former home.
0:20:20 > 0:20:25Ewart's main concern is the find out if the Bevan estate is worth any money.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27It doesn't look council-y.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32Possibly looks like it's privately owned.
0:20:32 > 0:20:37Er...but we'll see.
0:20:41 > 0:20:47The average two bedroom flat in Bedford is priced at around £150,000,
0:20:47 > 0:20:49but until Ewart speaks to someone,
0:20:49 > 0:20:53he doesn't know whether Bryan Bevan actually owned his own place,
0:20:53 > 0:20:54let alone its value.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58Nobody seems to be answering.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02To get any information, Ewart needs to find someone to speak to.
0:21:05 > 0:21:10- He's down to the last buzzer when a resident shows up. - Want to come in?- Yeah, thank you.
0:21:10 > 0:21:17It's a good result for Ewart, but will Bryan Bevan's neighbour give him any good news about the flat.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Do you know anything about him at all?
0:21:20 > 0:21:23He's a bit of a man of mystery to some degree.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25Apparently he was a reverend. Is that correct?
0:21:25 > 0:21:30Yes, he was very much, um, a recluse in the sense
0:21:30 > 0:21:34that he didn't, sort of, give a lot of information away.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38- Right. Did he own the property? - He owned the property.- He did?
0:21:38 > 0:21:41And roughly how much, I mean if it sold off,
0:21:41 > 0:21:43how much do you reckon it would go for?
0:21:43 > 0:21:45Probably about 200.
0:21:45 > 0:21:51The estimated £200,000 value of Bryan Bevan's estate
0:21:51 > 0:21:54means this case has been well worth the chase.
0:21:54 > 0:22:01Oh, such a turn up. What a great day. It ended very nicely.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04Ewart tries to call the office with the good news,
0:22:04 > 0:22:06but David is already on the phone.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10Paul, um, nothing seems to be breaking.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13- I think you might as well go home. - OK then, Dave.
0:22:13 > 0:22:17The team have now been working on the Bryan Bevan case for ten hours
0:22:17 > 0:22:19and as no new clues have come through,
0:22:19 > 0:22:23David decides they might as well wind down for the day.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26If I need you tomorrow, then obviously I will call you, yeah?
0:22:26 > 0:22:31- Yeah. OK.- Just out of interest, how long does it take you
0:22:31 > 0:22:34to get back to Birmingham or to wherever you are?
0:22:34 > 0:22:38Hang on two seconds. The GPS is now talking to me.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40It's saying, "Paul, go home." Hang on a second.
0:22:40 > 0:22:45It's probably worth ten pence this job anyway, Dave.
0:22:45 > 0:22:49Yeah, it's about two hours ten, within two-and-a-quarter hours.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51Not too bad. So just in case I need you tomorrow,
0:22:51 > 0:22:54- I'll give you a call, yeah? - OK, Dave.- Bye.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56Bye.
0:22:56 > 0:23:01Paul is happy to be heading home after his long day in Wales.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04But then, Ewart manages to get through to David.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06PHONE RINGS
0:23:08 > 0:23:11- Hello.- Oh, hi, Dave.- Hello, Ewart.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15- Yeah, I've just got some good information.- Go on.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19I've just been speaking to a gentleman called Ken Hill who...
0:23:19 > 0:23:21He actually lives at the property.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24Yeah. Did Mr Bevan, he didn't own a property then?
0:23:24 > 0:23:28- Yeah, he did. Yeah.- Oh, he owned it? - Yeah, he owned it.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32- He owned it?- Yeah, he owned it. He'll probably get about 200,000.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36200 grand. Can you just bear with me for a second?
0:23:36 > 0:23:38It's worth it.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40Do you want to speak to Paul
0:23:40 > 0:23:44and say we may need him back in Pontypridd tomorrow, it's worth it.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51Ewart's news now means the heir hunters can't afford to relax.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54Slacking off could mean Bryan Bevan's considerable estate
0:23:54 > 0:23:57snatched from under their noses by the competition.
0:23:57 > 0:24:03David now wants Paul to stay where the heir hunting action is most likely to kick off - in Wales.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07Oh, you're...
0:24:07 > 0:24:10- Pardon? - Is this on the Williams side?
0:24:10 > 0:24:14Yeah. We know it's a viable case now for certain.
0:24:14 > 0:24:19Oh, right, so there's no real point travelling 120 miles to Birmingham
0:24:19 > 0:24:23and then travelling 120 miles back, is there?
0:24:23 > 0:24:25Well, I'm just wondering that.
0:24:25 > 0:24:31OK. OK. Well, I'll be staying the night then.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37Yeah, it's a night in Pontypridd or Caerphilly,
0:24:37 > 0:24:41so I've got to turn around, go 20 miles the wrong way
0:24:41 > 0:24:44and stop the night.
0:24:44 > 0:24:49So, looks like steak's on the menu tonight.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51Thank you and good night.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57Coming up - will things get any better for Paul Matthews?
0:24:57 > 0:25:01It's not happening, so it's not a good start to the day.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04And will he ever get home to his family?
0:25:04 > 0:25:06You'll have to phone my wife. She wants to go out.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08- Does she?- I'm not telling her.
0:25:14 > 0:25:19Two years ago, Fraser & Fraser struggled with another large-value case.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22This time, one with an even trickier name than Williams.
0:25:22 > 0:25:27It was the case of a Leonora Smith who died in August 2005,
0:25:27 > 0:25:30leaving an estate worth £230,000.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36Smith is the most common surname in Britain,
0:25:36 > 0:25:39with over five million listed in the electoral roll.
0:25:39 > 0:25:43But with persistence and skill, the heir hunters at Fraser & Fraser
0:25:43 > 0:25:48managed to track down two heirs to Leonora's fortune.
0:25:48 > 0:25:53One of the heirs was Leonora's cousin, 89-year-old Maurice Chalk,
0:25:53 > 0:25:58who lives near Oxford with his collection of over 30 birds.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02Mr Chalk? Yeah, my name's Paul Matthews from Fraser & Fraser,
0:26:02 > 0:26:06a probate research company based in London. We deal with the estate...
0:26:06 > 0:26:09Maurice hadn't seen his cousin Leonora since childhood
0:26:09 > 0:26:11and the surprise didn't stop there.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16It was only several months after his claim was put in
0:26:16 > 0:26:19that Maurice found out exactly how much money he'd get.
0:26:22 > 0:26:27They first suggested it might be about £20,000
0:26:27 > 0:26:34and, er, it kept on creeping up
0:26:34 > 0:26:39and I said, when it got up to 50,000 and 60,000,
0:26:39 > 0:26:44I just said, "Go on, keep going then, keep going."
0:26:44 > 0:26:46And...
0:26:46 > 0:26:51And it ended up nearly a hundred, I think.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54Before inheriting his £100,000,
0:26:54 > 0:26:58Maurice, like most pensioners, kept a watchful eye on his spending.
0:26:58 > 0:27:03I couldn't then afford to go out and say, "I want that."
0:27:03 > 0:27:09Whereas now I can say, "I think I could manage it."
0:27:09 > 0:27:14And with his windfall, he's allowed himself a special treat -
0:27:14 > 0:27:17a state of the art camper van.
0:27:17 > 0:27:23I've had now, I think, 12 or 13 of these vans
0:27:23 > 0:27:29and each time, I think, "Well this is definitely the last one."
0:27:29 > 0:27:32The first one I had was a Ford
0:27:32 > 0:27:38which was £1,700 and now £33,000.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41But the knock on the door by the heir hunters
0:27:41 > 0:27:44brought Maurice something far more precious than money -
0:27:44 > 0:27:45a new relative.
0:27:45 > 0:27:49When Fraser & Fraser came, they were questioning me
0:27:49 > 0:27:54and, er, eventually decided I was the right person
0:27:54 > 0:28:01and they said, "We don't know exactly how many other possible people there are."
0:28:01 > 0:28:05"There might only by one or two,"
0:28:05 > 0:28:09and then they found out that, um,
0:28:09 > 0:28:12there was only one. That was Beverley.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15I got a phone call from Frasers out of the blue
0:28:15 > 0:28:18and they asked whether I could name any other relatives
0:28:18 > 0:28:20on my father's side.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22Maurice is my father's cousin.
0:28:22 > 0:28:26There were a number of cousins in the Haines family.
0:28:26 > 0:28:30Only my father actually had any children,
0:28:30 > 0:28:34so I was sort of the last of the Haines line.
0:28:34 > 0:28:36We had never met.
0:28:36 > 0:28:38I had never seen any of the family.
0:28:38 > 0:28:43From '39 until two years ago is a long time,
0:28:43 > 0:28:48and she thought everybody had passed on,
0:28:48 > 0:28:50including me,
0:28:50 > 0:28:56so it was only by chance that Fraser & Fraser, somehow -
0:28:56 > 0:28:58I'm not quite sure how -
0:28:58 > 0:29:00found that...
0:29:00 > 0:29:02I was also...
0:29:02 > 0:29:04um...
0:29:04 > 0:29:06a member of the family.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10Family is especially important to Maurice as at 89,
0:29:10 > 0:29:13he's lost his parents and his siblings and
0:29:13 > 0:29:15tragically Maurice never married
0:29:15 > 0:29:20because the Second World War came between him and his sweetheart.
0:29:20 > 0:29:25We were very friendly for several months.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28Used to go out, go to the pictures
0:29:28 > 0:29:32and then I got posted up to Iceland.
0:29:32 > 0:29:36And we wrote regularly,
0:29:36 > 0:29:42with difficulty, because it all had to go through the censors.
0:29:44 > 0:29:51I was there nearly two years and before the end,
0:29:51 > 0:29:55we seemed to lose contact
0:29:55 > 0:29:57and when I came back,
0:29:57 > 0:29:59there was no, er...
0:29:59 > 0:30:04They weren't there, the family had gone,
0:30:04 > 0:30:07and I never found out any more.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09Today Maurice is off to Southampton
0:30:09 > 0:30:12to visit his newly-discovered second cousin Beverley
0:30:12 > 0:30:14who he has only met once before.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17He is taking along some family memorabilia.
0:30:17 > 0:30:25These are photo albums which were found
0:30:25 > 0:30:27in Leonora's bungalow.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30It's a two-hour drive in his new camper van
0:30:30 > 0:30:34and Maurice has renewed his driving licence especially.
0:30:34 > 0:30:40So I'm now licensed until, I think, 93.
0:30:42 > 0:30:46His journey takes him across the Swinford toll bridge in Oxfordshire.
0:30:46 > 0:30:48Very expensive.
0:30:48 > 0:30:50- LAUGHING:- Five pence.
0:30:50 > 0:30:52It was two pence. It's gone up.
0:30:52 > 0:30:57Old habits die hard, even though he's now not wanting for money.
0:30:57 > 0:30:58Thank you.
0:31:00 > 0:31:02Maurice has travelled 70 miles to see Beverley.
0:31:02 > 0:31:08Now they've discovered each other, they want to make up for lost time.
0:31:08 > 0:31:09Oh, here we are.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11I found it.
0:31:16 > 0:31:18Together, they look over old photographs,
0:31:18 > 0:31:21trying to piece together some family history.
0:31:21 > 0:31:22- That's me.- Oh, is that you?
0:31:22 > 0:31:24That's me. That's my mum.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27That must be what you remember then.
0:31:27 > 0:31:28I should know that, shouldn't I?
0:31:28 > 0:31:30MAURICE LAUGHS
0:31:30 > 0:31:36He does remind me of some of the other Haines family members that I've met in the past.
0:31:36 > 0:31:40Just something in the way that he spoke that's quite similar.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43Although Beverley and Maurice barely know each other,
0:31:43 > 0:31:47they soon realise that their families were once very close.
0:31:47 > 0:31:50That's my grandfather, Bert.
0:31:50 > 0:31:52- That's Bert, is it?- Yeah.
0:31:52 > 0:31:54- Well, that's my parents.- Is it?
0:31:54 > 0:31:57- Yes.- I don't know where that one was taken then.
0:31:57 > 0:32:02But today, it's still difficult to work out the family connections.
0:32:02 > 0:32:08You're my dad's cousin so what relation am I to you? Is it second cousin?
0:32:08 > 0:32:10Second cousin, yes.
0:32:10 > 0:32:15- So Leonora would have been my second cousin as well.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18Beverley shows Maurice a photo of Leonora's house.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21Ironically, it's only a few miles from where Beverley now leaves.
0:32:21 > 0:32:23We were so close.
0:32:23 > 0:32:28It's just very sad, isn't it, that I never knew that she lived there,
0:32:28 > 0:32:30- she was a relative.- Mmm.
0:32:32 > 0:32:35Although they didn't visit her when she was alive,
0:32:35 > 0:32:39the cousins decide to pay their respects to Leonora at the cemetery.
0:32:39 > 0:32:42It's just on the corner. She was buried with her parents.
0:32:48 > 0:32:52Leonora's name is on the back of the grave.
0:32:52 > 0:32:54Have a look. Come round.
0:33:00 > 0:33:06If Fraser & Fraser hadn't tracked down the heirs to Leonora Smith's £230,000 estate,
0:33:06 > 0:33:08Maurice and Beverley would never have met.
0:33:11 > 0:33:13It's really nice to have Maurice
0:33:13 > 0:33:16because obviously, my parents are dead,
0:33:16 > 0:33:18so my children haven't got grandparents
0:33:18 > 0:33:21because my husband's parents are dead as well,
0:33:21 > 0:33:24so it's quite nice for them, I think, to have an older relative
0:33:24 > 0:33:28and they really think he's quite cool.
0:33:28 > 0:33:31And he drives around in his big camper van.
0:33:31 > 0:33:32They were very impressed.
0:33:32 > 0:33:35It's great news to me
0:33:35 > 0:33:41to know that there is somebody still around
0:33:41 > 0:33:46that, er, I can say is a relative.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55When heirs find out about long-lost relatives,
0:33:55 > 0:33:57their lives can change in amazing ways.
0:33:57 > 0:34:00And you too could help reunite families
0:34:00 > 0:34:04and lead a relative to a fortune that's rightfully theirs.
0:34:04 > 0:34:1067-year-old Valerie Hawkins died in Southend on Sea in February 2007,
0:34:10 > 0:34:13leaving £25,000.
0:34:13 > 0:34:15Her money will go to the government
0:34:15 > 0:34:17unless you know someone who is part of her family.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20Are you related to Valerie Hawkins?
0:34:20 > 0:34:2585-year-old Derek Hood died Gillingham, Kent, in February 2007,
0:34:25 > 0:34:28leaving £44,000.
0:34:28 > 0:34:32Are you related to Derek? Should his money go to someone you know?
0:34:32 > 0:34:3781-year-old John Laurence died in Cannock, Staffordshire,
0:34:37 > 0:34:38in February 2007.
0:34:38 > 0:34:42John left nearly £28,000. Are you a relative?
0:34:42 > 0:34:45Should you inherit John's money?
0:34:45 > 0:34:49If you have any information about any of these unclaimed estates,
0:34:49 > 0:34:56then take a look at our website -
0:35:03 > 0:35:07It's day two in the search for the heirs to Bryan Bevan's estate.
0:35:07 > 0:35:11After an end-of-day visit by travelling heir hunter Ewart Lindsay
0:35:11 > 0:35:15the heir hunters now believe the case is worth a potential £200,000.
0:35:15 > 0:35:17- 200 grand?- Yeah.
0:35:17 > 0:35:19It's worth it.
0:35:19 > 0:35:24Having over-nighted in Wales after a long day,
0:35:24 > 0:35:27Birmingham-based Paul Matthews is on red alert
0:35:27 > 0:35:28to respond to any new leads.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34The team haven't yet signed up any heirs to the Bevan estate
0:35:34 > 0:35:38and until they do they won't be getting a cut of any of the money
0:35:38 > 0:35:42and all their hard work will have been for nothing.
0:35:44 > 0:35:47It's 8am in the office and the team are fast at work.
0:35:47 > 0:35:52Gareth has just received a copy of Bryan Bevan's grandmother's will
0:35:52 > 0:35:54and the hunt is racing along.
0:35:54 > 0:35:57This is a brilliant will because it's very clear cut
0:35:57 > 0:36:01and she's mentioned the majority of her family, certainly her children,
0:36:01 > 0:36:03which is very useful from our point of view.
0:36:03 > 0:36:06So she's been very kind to us here, which is brilliant.
0:36:06 > 0:36:10The will gives the team seven more family members to research.
0:36:10 > 0:36:14It's now up to Paul to collect certificates for any he can track down.
0:36:14 > 0:36:18If he managed to find any death certificates, they'll be particularly useful.
0:36:18 > 0:36:24That's because give the name of the person who has informed the authorities about the death.
0:36:24 > 0:36:26Hopefully, the informant might be the child
0:36:26 > 0:36:29and that would bring us up to a later date or fairly recent,
0:36:29 > 0:36:32and it may well be the child is still alive.
0:36:32 > 0:36:36If Paul's certificates deliver any living informants,
0:36:36 > 0:36:40they could be Bryan Bevan's relatives and his heirs.
0:36:42 > 0:36:46Paul's hoping his overnight stay in Wales will have been worthwhile,
0:36:46 > 0:36:49giving him a head start in front of any rival heir hunters.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52First port of call is Caerphilly registry office
0:36:52 > 0:36:56and hopefully within an hour or so, we can be knocking on doors.
0:36:59 > 0:37:01But there's a problem.
0:37:01 > 0:37:05- They haven't got them? - No.- Where could they possibly be?
0:37:05 > 0:37:06We're in the registry office,
0:37:06 > 0:37:09hoping to pop in and get two deaths straight away.
0:37:09 > 0:37:13Unfortunately, they're not here, so they should be at Pontypridd.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16Pontypridd are saying they haven't got them.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19The other registry offices might possibly cover them.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22Bridgend, they haven't got them,
0:37:22 > 0:37:25and the real outsider - Cardiff - we're just checking.
0:37:25 > 0:37:28So whereas I hoped to pop in this morning, get the two deaths,
0:37:28 > 0:37:32get a couple of good informants and go knocking on people's doors,
0:37:32 > 0:37:36it's not happening, so it's not a good start to the day.
0:37:36 > 0:37:40Paul phones all of the register offices in this part of Wales.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43We've got to get somewhere sooner or later.
0:37:43 > 0:37:45Don't quote me.
0:37:45 > 0:37:49And two hours later, gets a call back from the Pontypridd office.
0:37:49 > 0:37:53- I'll bet you can't guess what they found.- You're joking?
0:37:53 > 0:37:56Paul speeds off to Pontypridd.
0:37:56 > 0:37:58But will certificates be any help?
0:37:58 > 0:38:01Hopefully, before too long, we'll be doing what we want to do -
0:38:01 > 0:38:06going to see somebody before the opposition knocks on their door.
0:38:06 > 0:38:10Hopefully, the delay is not going to cost us.
0:38:10 > 0:38:15That death of Hughes, they've now, Pontypridd have now found it.
0:38:15 > 0:38:16He's on his way to pick it up.
0:38:20 > 0:38:24At the register office, Paul finally gets his hands on a certificate.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27- Thanks a lot. - Thank you for your patience.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30- Have you got your pen poised anywhere?- Yeah. Go on.
0:38:30 > 0:38:36OK. This is the death of Sarah Maria Hughes and the informant...
0:38:36 > 0:38:38- Yeah?- ..is the son.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41- Yeah?- Ronald Howard Hughes.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44- Ronald Howard Hughes? - Yeah. Cheltenham.
0:38:44 > 0:38:45Cheltenham?
0:38:45 > 0:38:48Cheltenham. That's nearer to Birmingham than here isn't it?
0:38:48 > 0:38:50Things are looking up for Paul
0:38:50 > 0:38:55because on the death certificate of Bryan Bevan's aunt, Sarah,
0:38:55 > 0:38:58is a useful informant - her son, Ronald -
0:38:58 > 0:39:00a cousin of Bryan Bevan.
0:39:00 > 0:39:04He could be the team's next heir if they now manage to find him.
0:39:06 > 0:39:10- You don't know if he's still alive? - Well, no.- We'll check this out.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13The office researchers leap into action
0:39:13 > 0:39:17and soon find out that Ronald Hughes is actually no longer alive.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20But all is not lost, because he also left a will
0:39:20 > 0:39:22and in that will is the mention of someone
0:39:22 > 0:39:25who could prove to be just who they are looking for.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28On the probate of that Mr Hughes,
0:39:28 > 0:39:32there was a daughter mentioned, Helen Salter,
0:39:32 > 0:39:36last known to be living in Cheltenham area.
0:39:36 > 0:39:41So now the maternal side of Bryan Bevan's tree includes a cousin,
0:39:41 > 0:39:45Ronald Hughes, now deceased, and his daughter, Helen Salter.
0:39:45 > 0:39:48If the team can find Helen Salter, she'll be an heir.
0:39:48 > 0:39:53Unfortunately, we don't quite have a current address for her.
0:39:53 > 0:39:54Current address.
0:39:54 > 0:39:59In fact, as I say this, I've now been handed a current address.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02All they need to do now is let Paul know.
0:40:02 > 0:40:04PHONE RINGS
0:40:04 > 0:40:06Hello. If it's not bad news, don't tell me.
0:40:06 > 0:40:08No, no, it's good news.
0:40:08 > 0:40:12I think we've got the client address in Cheltenham for that Salter woman.
0:40:12 > 0:40:16- Oh, right. - I'm sorry if you're going to be a bit late getting home tonight,
0:40:16 > 0:40:18but that's her and that's that.
0:40:18 > 0:40:22Yeah you'll have to phone my wife and tell her. She wants to go out.
0:40:22 > 0:40:26- Does she?- I'm not going to tell her. - HE LAUGHS
0:40:26 > 0:40:28Do I look stupid?
0:40:28 > 0:40:3134 hours after starting the Bevan case,
0:40:31 > 0:40:35Paul is on his way to his first heir.
0:40:35 > 0:40:39Helen Salter has been called in advance, so she's expecting him,
0:40:39 > 0:40:42but she has no idea how much the visit will change her life.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45- Mrs Salter? Paul Matthews, Fraser & Fraser.- Come in, darling.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48- Nice to meet you.- Do come in. - Thank you very much.
0:40:48 > 0:40:50- Down here, yeah? OK.- Come in, yes.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53Nice one. No doubt a bit mystified by all this then?
0:40:53 > 0:40:55I am indeed, yes.
0:40:55 > 0:40:58We don't know the size of the estate.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01Um we think, but you can't quote us on this,
0:41:01 > 0:41:03it's worth over £200,000, the estate.
0:41:03 > 0:41:06That's not all coming your way, by the way.
0:41:06 > 0:41:09- It depends how many people we find. - Right.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12Any money will make a difference to 63-year-old divorcee Helen,
0:41:12 > 0:41:15who works full-time as a care home warden.
0:41:15 > 0:41:19I would love to have retired at 60, but I couldn't afford to.
0:41:19 > 0:41:23I'm with the council. Now you can stay until you're 65, so...
0:41:23 > 0:41:28- Oh, right. Well, you never know, you might get a few bob out of this. - Oh, it would be wonderful.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31Paul goes through the inheritance paperwork,
0:41:31 > 0:41:34so Helen can put in the claim for her share of the £200,000.
0:41:34 > 0:41:39- All the very best for the future. - Thank you very much. - Nice meeting you.
0:41:39 > 0:41:42- I hope you get a nice sum of money. Bye-bye.- Bye-bye.
0:41:45 > 0:41:47At first I didn't believe it
0:41:47 > 0:41:50and then I just, sort of, started shaking.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54It was totally out of the blue.
0:41:54 > 0:41:59After two frustrating days of getting nowhere fast,
0:41:59 > 0:42:03eventually, we got to see a first cousin once removed, Helen Salter.
0:42:03 > 0:42:05Lovely, lovely lady.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08We can't give any guarantees on the size of the estate,
0:42:08 > 0:42:10but if it turns out what we think,
0:42:10 > 0:42:13then she should get a good sum of money.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16She's very excited about it, so it's good all round.
0:42:16 > 0:42:18She's signed on the dotted line
0:42:18 > 0:42:21so Frasers is going to get something out of it at the end of the day.
0:42:21 > 0:42:25She's going to get hopefully a life-changing amount of money,
0:42:25 > 0:42:27put it to some good use.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30Hopefully she can do what she wants to do and retire.
0:42:30 > 0:42:32And so yeah, so after a frustrating day,
0:42:32 > 0:42:36at least now we've got an end result, so it's good news for me,
0:42:36 > 0:42:39for the company and at this late hour of the night,
0:42:39 > 0:42:42I can go back home to Birmingham, so good news all round.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45Back in London, spirits are high.
0:42:45 > 0:42:47Right. That's the end of another day.
0:42:52 > 0:42:56See you tomorrow, Dave. I'll miss you.
0:42:56 > 0:42:58THEY LAUGH
0:43:18 > 0:43:21Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:43:21 > 0:43:24E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk