0:00:02 > 0:00:04Heir hunters spend their lives tracking down families
0:00:04 > 0:00:07of people who've died without leaving a will.
0:00:07 > 0:00:11They hand over thousands of pounds to long-lost relatives,
0:00:11 > 0:00:13who had no idea they were in line for a windfall.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15Could they be knocking at your door?
0:00:31 > 0:00:35On today's programme - the Frasers' team take on two cases
0:00:35 > 0:00:38about people with relatives they never knew they had -
0:00:38 > 0:00:41one whose birth was a shameful secret...
0:00:41 > 0:00:45He was bought up in the Salvation Army, as well.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48I don't know, maybe in that time, because she was unmarried.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52..and the other, a woman who thought she was the last of her line,
0:00:52 > 0:00:55when her family lived just a few miles away.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01Plus, a list of unclaimed estates worth over £200,000.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04Could you be due to inherit some money?
0:01:11 > 0:01:15Every year in Britain, over 300,000 people die without leaving a will.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19When no family is found, their money goes to the government.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22That's when the heir hunting companies step in.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27Using birth, death and marriage records,
0:01:27 > 0:01:30they race against each other to be the first to track down
0:01:30 > 0:01:32any long-lost relatives entitled to inherit.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38Fraser and Fraser is one of the oldest firms of heir hunters in the country.
0:01:38 > 0:01:43In its 30-year history, the company has tracked down over 50,000 heirs,
0:01:43 > 0:01:48entitled to a whopping sum of over £100 million.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53It's 7am on Thursday,
0:01:53 > 0:01:57the day the Treasury publishes the list of unclaimed estates.
0:01:57 > 0:02:02At Fraser and Fraser's office in London, it's all hands on deck.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05Everyone is primed ready for the race
0:02:05 > 0:02:08to solve each case before rival heir hunters.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10It's always frantic, but today the atmosphere is tense,
0:02:10 > 0:02:12as for the first time,
0:02:12 > 0:02:15the Treasury have published the list without the crucial figure
0:02:15 > 0:02:19of how much each estate is worth.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Partner Neil Fraser has responsibility for choosing the cases
0:02:22 > 0:02:26he thinks have the highest value and therefore worth investigating.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30We're not really sure of the value of these cases.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32It's really increased our workload.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36Instead of doing two to three cases like we probably would do today,
0:02:36 > 0:02:39I think we're going to have to nine, ten, 11 cases.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41Because of the added pressure,
0:02:41 > 0:02:43he's having to be strategic about his choices.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47I've been looking at the case of Derek Paul Gordon Atkinson,
0:02:47 > 0:02:50cos it's got two middle names which should enable us
0:02:50 > 0:02:52to work it fairly quickly.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55The more middle names someone has, the easier they are to find
0:02:55 > 0:02:57in the birth and death records,
0:02:57 > 0:03:01as they stand out amongst those with the same first and last names.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05Aside from his full name, the only thing the heir hunters
0:03:05 > 0:03:07know about Derek Atkinson
0:03:07 > 0:03:11is that he ended his days in this care home in East London.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15Very hard to say what the value is.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18It doesn't look like there is going to be a huge amount of value on it,
0:03:18 > 0:03:20but as we've got Bob free,
0:03:20 > 0:03:25I want him to really do the enquiry and then see where it leads us to.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27Travelling heir hunter, Bob Smith,
0:03:27 > 0:03:29has been with Frasers for over 23 years.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33In the race to find heirs and sign them up, Fraser and Fraser
0:03:33 > 0:03:36employ a crack team of experienced researchers across the UK.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39Lovely. Thanks a lot, mate.
0:03:39 > 0:03:44They spend every Thursday poised to travel the length and breadth of the country, following the clues.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48Bob's detective work is second to none and Neil's hoping that he will
0:03:48 > 0:03:52find out information that's crucial to the case.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56Bob, it's Neil. Mate, we've got a new case for you this morning.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58Atkinson. So if you can just make your way to East London
0:03:58 > 0:04:02- and I'll give you the address when we're confirmed up on it.- Yeah.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04I'll ring you as soon as I can.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06Cheers, mate.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11So, I've been asked to go along to the nursing home and obviously make
0:04:11 > 0:04:15enquiries there to see if they have any information about his family.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17In the office,
0:04:17 > 0:04:22Neil has asked senior case manager, David Pacifico, to man the fort.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26He'll need his 39 years' experience to keep ahead of the game here.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29He's also concerned about the value of the case.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32It all depends what we can get from the nursing home which will find out
0:04:32 > 0:04:36whether, for example, did he have
0:04:36 > 0:04:39his own property or did he come from a council flat.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42If he owned his own property, then it would be of some value.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46Property constitutes the majority of people's wealth,
0:04:46 > 0:04:50so if Derek Atkinson did own a flat, that would be a good indication
0:04:50 > 0:04:54of the estate's value, but even if he wasn't a home owner, he could
0:04:54 > 0:04:56have had investments tucked away. At the very least,
0:04:56 > 0:05:00the estate must be worth £5,000, because that's
0:05:00 > 0:05:03the minimum value to make it eligible for the bona vacantia list.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06David calls Bob Smith.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10Hello, Bob. You're on the way to the nursing home, are you?
0:05:10 > 0:05:12I am, yep.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14'Hope this one's got money then, eh?'
0:05:14 > 0:05:16How do you find that out?
0:05:16 > 0:05:20You want me to ask the nursing home... did he have any money?
0:05:20 > 0:05:22'Well, we have to find out.'
0:05:25 > 0:05:27That rather tickled me.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29Me turning up asking questions
0:05:29 > 0:05:32about this guy and asking if he's left any money.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36I'm sure that's going to meet with a frosty response.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40In the office, David and research director, Noel McHugh,
0:05:40 > 0:05:44are poring over the files, trying to find any links for the name Atkinson.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48Over the years, Fraser and Fraser have built a huge library of birth,
0:05:48 > 0:05:50death and marriage records.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52The heir hunters will use them
0:05:52 > 0:05:56to track down any potential family members of Derek Atkinson.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00By putting the data together, they will build a family tree,
0:06:00 > 0:06:04breaking it down generation by generation, they will see who he
0:06:04 > 0:06:08is related to and who's in line to inherit his estate.
0:06:08 > 0:06:13The parentage of Derek Atkinson is proving to be a bit of a mystery.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16We understand he was born in Wandsworth in 1927 and it looks
0:06:16 > 0:06:20like he might be an illegit because the mother's maiden name is the same.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22If Derek Atkinson was illegitimate,
0:06:22 > 0:06:25things could get complicated.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28If the birth just shows the mother then we can only work
0:06:28 > 0:06:30the mother's side of the family.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32We won't know who the father is. You know, it could look
0:06:32 > 0:06:36as if it's illegitimate when it's not, so we need to obtain a copy of the birth certificate.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39But that means going to Wandsworth,
0:06:39 > 0:06:42which is on the other side of London from where Bob Smith is.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44Perhaps someone at the care home
0:06:44 > 0:06:48will be able to confirm whether Derek was born out of wedlock.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52From the outside, it actually looks quite nice.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56So maybe it is a private nursing home and he did have some money.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58But we'll see.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00We'll see.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03Bob struck it lucky.
0:07:03 > 0:07:08Elaine Robertson knew Derek well and she's on duty today.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12We're making enquiries about a gentleman that was a resident here.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14A gentleman by the name of Derek Atkinson.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18I understand you were one of the staff members that looked after him...
0:07:18 > 0:07:22- Yeah.- Yourself. Did he ever have any visitors at all?- No.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25Any family members or any friends at all?
0:07:25 > 0:07:28- No.- I understand you went to the funeral.- Yes.- Was it just yourself?
0:07:28 > 0:07:31- Just me and another carer went. - Right.- Only the two of us.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33- So he literally had really died on his own.- Yeah.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36Yeah. He never mentioned any family?
0:07:36 > 0:07:40- He did have a father but they lost contact many, many years ago.- Right.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43He used to have, like, his mum.
0:07:43 > 0:07:49- He hadn't seen his mum since he was about 18 years old.- All right.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52But he was brought up in the Salvation Army, as well.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55I don't know maybe at that time, cos she was unmarried.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57- Unmarried mother.- Yeah.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00- Well, thanks for all your help. That's lovely.- You're welcome.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02- OK. Nice to meet you.- Thank you.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07Elaine's confirmed that Derek was definitely illegitimate
0:08:07 > 0:08:09and she knew a little about his background.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13And Bob is a bit more hopeful about the value when he calls in to the office.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16- Hello, Bob.- Hi, Dave. You all right?
0:08:16 > 0:08:19- Yeah. And you? How you doing? - Yeah. Not too bad.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21Do you know whether he owned his own flat or what?
0:08:21 > 0:08:23They wouldn't tell me...
0:08:23 > 0:08:26but it's a private care home. It's a very nice care home.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29- It's a private care home. - Yeah. Yeah. It's not a council one.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33It's a private care home which means he may have had some money.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36Information that I did get
0:08:36 > 0:08:41was that he was brought up by the Salvation Army,
0:08:41 > 0:08:45but he lost contact with his mother when he was 18.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47Last saw her at Liverpool Street Station.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51After that, she never came to visit him any more and he lost contact with her.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53We need a copy of that birth... in Wandsworth.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56- So you want me to go over to Wandsworth?- I think so.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59Yeah. Let's get over there.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01All right.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05So, this case looks like it's worth following.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08And its likely rival companies are hot on their heels.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10Bob needs to get to Wandsworth fast,
0:09:10 > 0:09:13to pick up Derek's birth certificate.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17Once they get the mother's name, they'll be able to take
0:09:17 > 0:09:21their research to the next level and track down Derek's grandparents.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23In the meantime,
0:09:23 > 0:09:27the researchers are desperately scanning the birth records to see if
0:09:27 > 0:09:29there were any other Atkinsons born in Wandsworth
0:09:29 > 0:09:32a couple of years either side of Derek.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34If they find anyone, they could be
0:09:34 > 0:09:38a likely candidate for a sibling, but so far, they're having no luck.
0:09:38 > 0:09:42They need those details from the birth certificate.
0:09:42 > 0:09:46The question is, of course, if the mother's on it, whether
0:09:46 > 0:09:49or not she ever got married afterwards or died a spinster,
0:09:49 > 0:09:51but at least we'd have a name.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55It's midday and Bob's arrived in Wandsworth.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58Brilliant. Thank you very much. Lovely. Thanks very much.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01He's found out some surprising news.
0:10:03 > 0:10:04- Hello.- David, hi. It's Bob.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06Hello, Bob. How you doing?
0:10:06 > 0:10:10Hiya. Yeah. We're at Wandsworth Register Office.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13When I first applied for the birth certificate,
0:10:13 > 0:10:18the superintendent came out and said that another company had been here
0:10:18 > 0:10:21looking for it as well, and told them that they couldn't find it.
0:10:21 > 0:10:26- Right.- Yeah. He said... I'll go and get someone else to check again.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28- Yeah.- They did and they found it this time.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32- They found it.- Yeah. So it is here.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35So the other company don't know that it is actually here.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39- So they've gone away then... the other company.- Exactly.
0:10:39 > 0:10:40May well give us a head start.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43Good. We'll see what it says on the birth certificate.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46There's nothing you can do without the birth, is there?
0:10:46 > 0:10:50Frasers were lucky this time, but they can't take it for granted.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52Their rivals will soon be back on track.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55The heir hunters need to get a move on,
0:10:55 > 0:10:58but for now, all they can do is wait for the red tape to unravel.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02Let's hope the staff at the Register Office
0:11:02 > 0:11:04are feeling merciful.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09Coming up, will David's gamble to back the Atkinson case pay off?
0:11:09 > 0:11:14You know, he left over £800 in 1930, which by today's standards,
0:11:14 > 0:11:16would have been a lot more, you know.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19Or has he backed the wrong horse?
0:11:19 > 0:11:22- I mean...- It's dead, isn't it?
0:11:22 > 0:11:24Well, I don't know. I don't know.
0:11:26 > 0:11:31Heir hunters put the puzzle of missing family members together piece by piece.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34But there are often parts of the picture that just don't add up.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38Can you help find the missing links?
0:11:38 > 0:11:41Muriel Brooks passed away in Ipswich, Suffolk.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43She was 86 years old when she died,
0:11:43 > 0:11:46leaving an estate totalling £40,000.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49Can you prove you were related to Muriel?
0:11:49 > 0:11:54Irene Walker died in 2005, in West Yorkshire, at the age of 78,
0:11:54 > 0:11:58leaving nearly £28,000. Are you a relative?
0:11:58 > 0:12:00Could you be entitled to her cash?
0:12:00 > 0:12:04Kenneth George Edwards died in Birmingham, in 2003,
0:12:04 > 0:12:06at the age of 73.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09Although he had £30,000, he didn't leave a will.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13Are you entitled to his cash, or know someone who is?
0:12:13 > 0:12:15If you have any information which could help solve
0:12:15 > 0:12:18any of these unclaimed cases,
0:12:18 > 0:12:20then take a look at our website -
0:12:22 > 0:12:26and follow details on what to do next.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34In the race to find heirs,
0:12:34 > 0:12:39Frasers use everything to speed the process and their sophisticated IT resources are second to none.
0:12:39 > 0:12:44But at the end of the day, these cases are all about people.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47My name's Robert Smith. I'm from a company called Fraser and Fraser.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49And the travelling heir hunters
0:12:49 > 0:12:54are the human face of the company, often managing delicate situations.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56He's actually your half brother.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59- He's dead? Is he?- Yes.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02- And sometimes even reuniting long-lost kin.- Hello.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06- Hello, Beryl. Lovely to meet you. - Nice to meet you, as well. - Thank you very much.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11Their investigations can take them down some unexpected paths
0:13:11 > 0:13:15as Bolton-based traveller, Dave Mansell, found one freezing
0:13:15 > 0:13:17Thursday morning a few months ago,
0:13:17 > 0:13:21when he was asked to investigate the case of Ethel Weatherill.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25Looking back at the Weatherill case,
0:13:25 > 0:13:30from memory now it seems like it was a really strange start to a day.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32It may have been strange for Dave,
0:13:32 > 0:13:35but for the office, it was business as usual.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39Ethel Weatherill, seen here in her 30s,
0:13:39 > 0:13:43left a substantial sum of £112,000.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46A retired cleaner, she was 89 when she passed away at home.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48Ethel was always very close to her family.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51In fact, she bought this house in Marple
0:13:51 > 0:13:55as it was next door to her mother, and brother, Alan.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58Now, the deceased, Ethel Weatherill,
0:13:58 > 0:14:02had a brother, Alan, who died aged 19, a bachelor,
0:14:02 > 0:14:07and had another brother, Maurice, who died when he was very nearly 60.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09He was married but had no children.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14Frasers knew that she was the eldest of three and had outlived
0:14:14 > 0:14:16her two younger brothers, Alan and Maurice.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20As she had never married, there were no obvious heirs.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23The team needed to find her parents' names to see if there was
0:14:23 > 0:14:26extended family who may be in line to inherit.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30Case manager, Frances Brett, was running the investigation.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32I've spoken to her next-door neighbour
0:14:32 > 0:14:34who knew her extremely well.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37She'd lived there for some 30 years.
0:14:37 > 0:14:44She'd always said that she had nobody once her last brother died.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49Believing herself to be alone in the world, Ethel had
0:14:49 > 0:14:53made a special request to her neighbour before she passed away.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57Now, the next door neighbour was able to tell me
0:14:57 > 0:15:01that she insisted, that the deceased, when she was cremated,
0:15:01 > 0:15:05had her remains put with the rest of her family
0:15:05 > 0:15:07who were buried in Cheadle Cemetery.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11Ethel's dying wish proved invaluable for the heir hunters,
0:15:11 > 0:15:14as the family plot might include her parents' names.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17And for Dave, this freezing Thursday morning
0:15:17 > 0:15:21was about to take a turn into the unexpected.
0:15:21 > 0:15:27We've sent Dave Mansell along to go and have a look in the cemetery
0:15:27 > 0:15:30to see if he can find the grave to get all the information
0:15:30 > 0:15:32about the family.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38Keep your eyes skimmed now for Cheadle Cemetery.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41This don't look right.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46'You have arrived at your destination.'
0:15:51 > 0:15:52Cemetery gates.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56But finding the gates was the easy part.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02Oh, dear. How are we going to find...
0:16:03 > 0:16:07..the gravestone here? There are millions.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11The words needle and haystack sprang to mind here.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15Dave thought he might be in for a long, cold morning.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21Fortunately, there were signs of life amongst the gravestones.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23Morning, gents.
0:16:25 > 0:16:30I don't want you laughing when I say this. I'm looking for a grave.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Ethel Weatherill. What was the date?
0:16:33 > 0:16:3630th October 2006, in Stockport.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39Thank goodness for grave digger, David Hazelhurst.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42Hiya. Could you find me a grave, please?
0:16:42 > 0:16:44He called Stockport Council
0:16:44 > 0:16:47who have a master plan of the cemetery on their system.
0:16:47 > 0:16:5087, section 16.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52Thank you very much. Bye.
0:16:52 > 0:16:57To go to a graveyard, one as large as that one in Cheadle,
0:16:57 > 0:17:02without the grave digger that happened to be on site that morning,
0:17:02 > 0:17:05I think six months later
0:17:05 > 0:17:08we'd have still been looking for the right grave.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14The forward-thinking Weatherill family
0:17:14 > 0:17:18are all buried together and the graves go back several generations.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21For Dave, it was perfect...
0:17:21 > 0:17:24just like a family tree, written in stone.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26Hi, Fran.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28Ethel's brother's dates were on the gravestones,
0:17:28 > 0:17:32but Dave was there for the parents' names.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34Benjamin Weatherill,
0:17:34 > 0:17:37died 23rd August 1950.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40And then his wife, Beatrice,
0:17:40 > 0:17:43died 2nd December '66...
0:17:44 > 0:17:46..aged 79.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48Once they had this information,
0:17:48 > 0:17:53the office had a fighting chance of finding an heir.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56Ethel's parents were Beatrice and Benjamin Weatherill. If her
0:17:56 > 0:18:00parents had any brothers or sisters, there was a possibility that Ethel
0:18:00 > 0:18:02might have cousins who were still alive.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05If so, they would be in line to inherit.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07That's it. We're going to go and wrap
0:18:07 > 0:18:10our fingers around a warm cup of coffee somewhere.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12- Bye-bye.- Bye.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15After a morning in sub-zero temperatures,
0:18:15 > 0:18:18all Dave could do was wait while the office worked the clues.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20This is the first time in ten years
0:18:20 > 0:18:22I've had a chance to get a cup of coffee.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26Pull the other one, Dave.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30Frances was right to send Dave to the cemetery, as the vital details
0:18:30 > 0:18:33from the gravestones did fast-track the investigation.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35In less than an hour,
0:18:35 > 0:18:39they had built a family tree and had identified several heirs.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41- Hiya, Gareth.- 'Do you want to go and see someone?'
0:18:41 > 0:18:44Well, it'd be a starter for ten.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47'Have you got anything on the maternal side of the case?'
0:18:47 > 0:18:52No. I've got mother and father and the three children.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55'Right. OK. Well, there's quite a lot to it, now.'
0:18:55 > 0:18:57It seemed at that point
0:18:57 > 0:19:00that all the heirs were on the maternal side of the family.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03Ethel's mother, Beatrice, had a sister called Elizabeth
0:19:03 > 0:19:06and she married and had seven children.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08They have all since died,
0:19:08 > 0:19:11but their offspring would be entitled to inherit.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15Frasers had tracked down two children of Ethel's cousin, James...
0:19:15 > 0:19:18Doreen and her brother, also named James.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20It seems Ethel did have relatives and on top of that,
0:19:20 > 0:19:24they only lived a few miles away.
0:19:24 > 0:19:29We're off to see a gentleman who was born in 1932.
0:19:29 > 0:19:34Dave arrived to see the first heir, James, just after lunch.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36His father was Ethel's cousin.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39As the office had already briefed James, Dave was able
0:19:39 > 0:19:41to get straight down to the paperwork.
0:19:43 > 0:19:44Easier said than done.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47What date did he get married?
0:19:48 > 0:19:50- 11th of...- 12th.
0:19:50 > 0:19:5312th. 12th of... I always get this wrong...
0:19:53 > 0:19:5512th March.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57It's always the lady that gets it right.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59Were it 50?
0:19:59 > 0:20:00- Five.- 55.
0:20:00 > 0:20:031955. And your wife's full name is?
0:20:03 > 0:20:05Frances...
0:20:05 > 0:20:07..you haven't got a middle name, have you?
0:20:07 > 0:20:09- No.- You know,
0:20:09 > 0:20:11I'd never thought of that.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13Been married 53 years, nearly.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15It's like a comedy of errors, this.
0:20:15 > 0:20:19- At least we can laugh.- Yes.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22Now, does Weatherill mean anything to you?
0:20:22 > 0:20:25- Weatherill. Yeah.- Right. What do you know about Weatherill?
0:20:25 > 0:20:31Not a lot, but I think, actually, he was a cousin to my father.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34They lived in Cheadle.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36Well, it's descendants of them where the person's died
0:20:36 > 0:20:38- without leaving a will.- Oh.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41It was hard work, but they got there in the end.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43- Reds or blues?- What?
0:20:43 > 0:20:46- Football.- Oh, reds.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52For Dave, meeting the heirs is always the icing on the cake.
0:20:52 > 0:20:53Pleasure to meet you.
0:20:53 > 0:20:58They are pleased, very pleased, to see you and it's not always
0:20:58 > 0:21:00because of the money that they're going to get.
0:21:00 > 0:21:06It's because of the fact that they can discuss families, family members,
0:21:06 > 0:21:08people they've not seen for many years.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11It was very interesting
0:21:11 > 0:21:13and as Dave said,
0:21:13 > 0:21:17it got the old grey cells working.
0:21:17 > 0:21:22And it's made my day, really.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26After signing James, Dave called on his sister, Doreen.
0:21:26 > 0:21:31She recalled her distant cousin, Ethel, from her youth.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34It brought back a lot of memories.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38Lots of things I could remember and lots of things I couldn't...
0:21:38 > 0:21:41because I only met him
0:21:41 > 0:21:43twice, I should imagine, at the most.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49- Ethel's aunt and uncle were Doreen's grandparents.- He was a very
0:21:49 > 0:21:54nice, dapper little gentlemen and he always waxed his moustache...
0:21:54 > 0:21:58and that's Grandma and her sister
0:21:58 > 0:22:00was mother to Ethel.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02But whatever we get,
0:22:02 > 0:22:05it's more for the family than for ourselves.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11Since that freezing Thursday in January, Frasers have continued
0:22:11 > 0:22:15the hunt for heirs to Ethel's estate with surprising results.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18We've ended up with a massive family tree,
0:22:18 > 0:22:23and we've seen absolutely dozens of people
0:22:23 > 0:22:26who will be heirs to this estate.
0:22:26 > 0:22:31They've also discovered the case was worth a lot more than they thought.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35The estate's valued at about £140,000.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37Very few will get an absolute life changing sum,
0:22:37 > 0:22:39but everybody will get something.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42So the case has been well worth doing.
0:22:42 > 0:22:46It's been a really interesting case to do.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48A lot of work but worth it in the end.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51The great sadness here, is that
0:22:51 > 0:22:54in life, Ethel Weatherill believed she didn't have any family left.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57Perhaps she would draw comfort from the fact that her legacy
0:22:57 > 0:23:00is being shared by so many.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13It's Fraser and Fraser's business to track down heirs
0:23:13 > 0:23:17to unclaimed estates, giving relatives the inheritance
0:23:17 > 0:23:18that is rightfully theirs.
0:23:18 > 0:23:22Today, senior case manager, David Pacifico, is pursuing
0:23:22 > 0:23:27the case of Derek Atkinson who died alone in this care home.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30It's proving to be a tough case.
0:23:30 > 0:23:35At the moment, we don't know what the value of it is.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39And it's possible that he might be illegitimate.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44The heir hunters are desperate to get his mother's name from his birth
0:23:44 > 0:23:49certificate, so they can start the family tree and the hunt for heirs.
0:23:49 > 0:23:50And there's another pressure.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53They know that a rival company is chasing the same case.
0:23:53 > 0:23:58Bob, are you back in the Registry Office yet?
0:23:58 > 0:23:59Yeah.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02Travelling heir hunter, Bob Smith,
0:24:02 > 0:24:06has been at the Wandsworth Register Office for over an hour.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08But has the wait been worth it?
0:24:08 > 0:24:10Thanks a lot. Bye.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13Bob calls in with the news.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15I've got the birth of our deceased.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17- Born...- Yeah.
0:24:17 > 0:24:1924th January 1927.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22- Yeah.- No father shown.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26- Right.- The mother is Nellie Atkinson.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30We've got the birth of the deceased and it is illegit.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34No father's shown on the birth and the mother is Nellie Atkinson.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36It's a major breakthrough,
0:24:36 > 0:24:40as the mother, Nellie Atkinson, is the lynchpin to the case.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44And now the heir hunters can put a family tree together.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46So, can we see if there's any for Nellie?
0:24:46 > 0:24:49Do you want to do marriages? I'll just check deaths.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52By searching the birth, death and marriage records, they are hoping
0:24:52 > 0:24:56they will find Nellie's parents and possibly, if she had any siblings.
0:24:56 > 0:25:00But David's got another idea.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04Good afternoon. I'm trying to check an old electoral roll address
0:25:04 > 0:25:06for an address in Lambeth SE5.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08David's using the electoral roll
0:25:08 > 0:25:11to see if the address from the birth certificate had any other
0:25:11 > 0:25:15Atkinsons living there in 1927,
0:25:15 > 0:25:17the year that Derek was born.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19Noel, I've got something for you.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22That address, I've just heard back from the...
0:25:22 > 0:25:24and we've got two Atkinsons there.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28Alice Emma Atkinson and Walter Alexander Atkinson.
0:25:28 > 0:25:29I think these may be the grandparents.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33David's inspired piece of research has saved
0:25:33 > 0:25:36precious minutes in the race to find family members.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39The heir hunters can now build their family tree.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44They know that Derek's mum was called Nellie Atkinson
0:25:44 > 0:25:47and they believe her parents were Walter Alexander Atkinson
0:25:47 > 0:25:50and Alice Emma Atkinson,
0:25:50 > 0:25:54so they need to see if they can find any brothers or sisters for Nellie.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58Travelling heir hunter, Bob Smith's
0:25:58 > 0:26:01at Wandsworth Register Office, waiting for news.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03- David has a job for him.- Yep. Yeah.
0:26:03 > 0:26:08So, David's asked me to get a copy of the marriage of the grandparents,
0:26:08 > 0:26:11which is here and perhaps try and see if we can do a birth search
0:26:11 > 0:26:14to see if there are any other siblings.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16Back in the office, research director, Noel,
0:26:16 > 0:26:22has uncovered a basic death record, which might reveal a lot more about Nellie.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26Methinks she may have died a spinster, in 1985, in Worthing,
0:26:26 > 0:26:31and what I want to do is to find out if the death coincides with the birth
0:26:31 > 0:26:34and who the informant is on that death.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37Maybe it might have been a nephew or niece of the mother which...
0:26:37 > 0:26:39better for us.
0:26:39 > 0:26:43David needs to get a man down to Worthing to pick up Nellie's death certificate.
0:26:43 > 0:26:48With Bob Smith in place at Wandsworth, trying to find potential siblings to Nellie,
0:26:48 > 0:26:52he calls another travelling heir hunter, Bob Barrett.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55- Hello.- Bob. Hello. It's David.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58- Hello, mate.- May need a death certificate picked up from Worthing.
0:26:58 > 0:27:03- Okey-doke.- Can you get there in an hour? They close at four.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07It's about half past two now,
0:27:07 > 0:27:11just after half past two and it's about 40 miles away,
0:27:11 > 0:27:13so I should be able to get there in time,
0:27:13 > 0:27:16provided they're not too busy when I arrive.
0:27:16 > 0:27:20Back in the office, Noel and David have come up with a cunning plan.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23They're going through the census.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26This is a national population survey which has been conducted
0:27:26 > 0:27:29by the government every ten years since 1841.
0:27:29 > 0:27:34It's a comprehensive list of the names of all the people living at every address in Britain.
0:27:34 > 0:27:39They are only released 100 years after they were taken, so the latest
0:27:39 > 0:27:43census the Frasers' team have is from 1901. Nellie and her
0:27:43 > 0:27:46family were living at this house in South London in that year.
0:27:46 > 0:27:51She would have been eight and the census may reveal other siblings in the household.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54The good news is that it confirms they have the right family,
0:27:54 > 0:27:57but it looks like Noel's uncovered a problem.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00Right. Do you want to fill me in? You say it's a
0:28:00 > 0:28:04- potentially dead case.- Because... - 01 census...- 01 census of Walter...
0:28:04 > 0:28:09- living with who?- Alice, and Nellie. - She's eight years old.
0:28:09 > 0:28:13She's eight years old, with two servants and they're both 37.
0:28:13 > 0:28:18Noel is concerned because he believes that Nellie's the only child listed.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21And has her parents were in their late 30s at the time,
0:28:21 > 0:28:24it is less likely there would be more offspring.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27Well, there's a possibility there may not be any heirs on this case,
0:28:27 > 0:28:32if the mother was an only child and on the 01 census there was no other siblings of her shown...
0:28:32 > 0:28:35but, and it is a big but,
0:28:35 > 0:28:38there may well be other births after 01.
0:28:38 > 0:28:41But David's not about to give up. He's determined to find an heir.
0:28:41 > 0:28:48Can you check to see if there are any births after 01 of Atkinsons in Wandsworth or Lambeth?
0:28:48 > 0:28:52The census has revealed something else about Nellie's parents,
0:28:52 > 0:28:55which could prove beneficial to the case.
0:28:55 > 0:28:58If he's got servants that makes it even better.
0:28:58 > 0:29:03If he's got servants, the grandparents, then the deceased, hopefully, he's got money.
0:29:03 > 0:29:06This has opened up another area to investigate.
0:29:06 > 0:29:10David has decided to order up a copy of Nellie's father,
0:29:10 > 0:29:13Walter Atkinson's will from the Registry of Probates,
0:29:13 > 0:29:17which is a few miles from their office.
0:29:17 > 0:29:22We need to know what's on the will and this is where we'll know, probably, how many children he had.
0:29:22 > 0:29:26In Wandsworth, travelling heir hunter, Bob Smith's been asked to do
0:29:26 > 0:29:31a birth search on possible siblings for Nellie, but there's a problem.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33So we can't...
0:29:33 > 0:29:36- definitely can't do it today. - No.- Can't do it tomorrow.
0:29:36 > 0:29:38And, obviously, probably closed, aren't you?
0:29:38 > 0:29:40- We're just closed for the holidays.- Yeah.
0:29:40 > 0:29:45With the Christmas holidays looming, it will be weeks before they can do the search.
0:29:45 > 0:29:47They really need Nellie's death certificate.
0:29:49 > 0:29:53Luckily, Bob Barrett's made good progress on the road to Worthing.
0:29:53 > 0:29:56He's just arrived at the Register Office in the nick of time.
0:29:56 > 0:29:58In the office, David's stuck in limbo.
0:29:58 > 0:30:03He's waiting for the grandfather's will and the information from the death certificate.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06The stress has pushed him to comfort eating.
0:30:06 > 0:30:11I'm going to have a bad lunch today. I'm going to have my croissant and a mince pie.
0:30:11 > 0:30:16But before he can digest his first mouthful, it's action stations.
0:30:16 > 0:30:20The will has arrived. This document could blow the whole case wide open.
0:30:20 > 0:30:24I've got the will of the grandfather here.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27You know, he left over £800 in 1930,
0:30:27 > 0:30:31which, by today's standards, would be a lot more, you know.
0:30:31 > 0:30:34£800 in the '30s is the equivalent
0:30:34 > 0:30:37of £22,000 in today's cash.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39So there was some money in the family,
0:30:39 > 0:30:42but who did Derek's grandfather leave it to?
0:30:42 > 0:30:44Three or four of my children.
0:30:44 > 0:30:48It doesn't actually give details of any of his children.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53The date of the will was 1892.
0:30:53 > 0:30:56He only got married a year before that.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58So he made the will just after his marriage.
0:30:58 > 0:31:04So Walter made the will a long time before he had any children.
0:31:04 > 0:31:06His forward thinking hasn't helped David, though.
0:31:06 > 0:31:11- Research director, Gareth Langford can't resist having a dig.- I mean,
0:31:11 > 0:31:16- I'm not...- It's dead, isn't it?- I don't know. I don't know. Who knows?
0:31:16 > 0:31:20It seems this case has stalled and they really need a break.
0:31:20 > 0:31:23David's pinning all his hopes on Nellie's death certificate
0:31:23 > 0:31:26which Bob Barrett has just collected in Worthing.
0:31:26 > 0:31:30- Hello.- Hello, David.- Hello, Bob.
0:31:30 > 0:31:34The very obliging staff at Worthing have produced a certificate for me.
0:31:34 > 0:31:38- Right.- It's Nellie Atkinson.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41- Yeah.- Died 18th March 1985.
0:31:41 > 0:31:43And the informant...
0:31:43 > 0:31:48- Yeah.- ..was Nancy Joan Darlow Atkinson.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51- Sister-in-law.- Sister-in-law.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54That's an astounding piece of news.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57It seems that Nellie may not have been an only child.
0:31:57 > 0:32:00Well, basically, the informant on what I believe is the mother's
0:32:00 > 0:32:03death, is a sister-in-law,
0:32:03 > 0:32:06which means that she may well have had a brother.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09Because Nellie had a sister-in-law,
0:32:09 > 0:32:11she must have had a brother.
0:32:11 > 0:32:15If he has had children, they would be Derek Atkinson's cousins
0:32:15 > 0:32:17and therefore, heirs to his estate.
0:32:19 > 0:32:24We need to pick up the death of Nancy Joan Darlow Atkinson.
0:32:26 > 0:32:31It would show who she was the wife or widow of, and then,
0:32:31 > 0:32:34obviously, check to see if there's any issue of that marriage.
0:32:34 > 0:32:37But at just after 4pm, they're cutting it fine.
0:32:37 > 0:32:42The sister-in-law's name is the key to finding Nellie's brother.
0:32:42 > 0:32:44Is there a way we can find that marriage?
0:32:44 > 0:32:47Perhaps we could work it back. Alexander.
0:32:47 > 0:32:51Noel's looking for the marriage details on their system.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54And David starts scanning the electoral roll for the address
0:32:54 > 0:32:57sister-in-law Nancy gave on Nellie's death certificate.
0:32:57 > 0:33:00That ties in with this.
0:33:00 > 0:33:03Suddenly, he hits gold.
0:33:03 > 0:33:07There's somebody called Johnny Atkinson living at the same place
0:33:07 > 0:33:10as where the sister-in-law lived until she died.
0:33:11 > 0:33:15Also living there was Alexander Atkinson,
0:33:15 > 0:33:18who we now know was Nellie's brother.
0:33:18 > 0:33:23So, it looks like Nellie had a brother called Alexander Atkinson.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25He was born in 1901,
0:33:25 > 0:33:29just after the census when Nellie was eight years old.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31But what about the third name listed at the address?
0:33:31 > 0:33:35Was John Atkinson, Alexander and Nancy's son?
0:33:35 > 0:33:39One way to find out is to get Nancy's death certificate.
0:33:39 > 0:33:42Tomorrow morning, I'm going to get Bob Barrett to go
0:33:42 > 0:33:45to Leatherhead Register Office to pick up a death in 1995,
0:33:45 > 0:33:49of the mother's sister-in-law, to see who the informant is.
0:33:49 > 0:33:51It's gone 4pm
0:33:51 > 0:33:53and after four hours stuck in Wandsworth,
0:33:53 > 0:33:56Bob Smith's feeling a little jaded.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59Hello, Bob. David. I just want to update you.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02'I'm using Bob, obviously, to get the death.'
0:34:02 > 0:34:04I'm missing out again, Dave.
0:34:04 > 0:34:06- 'What?'- I'm missing out...
0:34:06 > 0:34:08I'm getting withdrawal symptoms.
0:34:08 > 0:34:13I haven't been to see anyone for such a long time. OK. Thanks, Dave.
0:34:13 > 0:34:15- 'Cheers, Bob.'- Thanks a lot. Bye.
0:34:15 > 0:34:16'Bye.'
0:34:18 > 0:34:21Well, self explanatory. I'm not needed any more now.
0:34:21 > 0:34:25Well, Bob can go home, but David's going into overtime.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28He's determined to crack this case
0:34:28 > 0:34:32before the day is out. In one last ditch attempt,
0:34:32 > 0:34:35he phones the house listed for Nancy on Nellie's death certificate,
0:34:35 > 0:34:37hoping to gather information.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40I'm going to phone up somebody now owning the property
0:34:40 > 0:34:44where the family used to live and something might come up.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47Oh, hello. Mrs O'Brian?
0:34:47 > 0:34:49I'm sorry to trouble you. I wonder if you can help me.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52We're trying to trace a family that used to live at Corner Cottage.
0:34:52 > 0:34:54People by the name of Atkinson.
0:34:54 > 0:34:58We think there might have been children, or at least a son.
0:34:58 > 0:35:01Two children, a son and a daughter.
0:35:01 > 0:35:05It's a lucky strike and a cracking piece of news.
0:35:05 > 0:35:09That last minute phone call has uncovered another heir.
0:35:09 > 0:35:13Heather and John are both cousins to the deceased, but they've still
0:35:13 > 0:35:17got a long way to go if they're to find them before the competition.
0:35:17 > 0:35:21But at least we've done a lot of work today
0:35:21 > 0:35:23and it's paid dividends, I think.
0:35:23 > 0:35:27Dave got results, but it's time to down tools.
0:35:27 > 0:35:29Tomorrow, they need to track down John and Heather.
0:35:29 > 0:35:33Nothing is over until the heirs have signed on the dotted line.
0:35:40 > 0:35:45Government coffers are overflowing with cash that is yet to be claimed.
0:35:45 > 0:35:48Is it possible that you are due some inheritance?
0:35:49 > 0:35:54Arthur Colin Parker died in Flintshire, at the age of 71.
0:35:54 > 0:35:57He left a tidy sum of £76,000.
0:35:57 > 0:35:59Are you entitled to his fortune?
0:36:01 > 0:36:04William Isles passed away in the Borough of Westminster,
0:36:04 > 0:36:08at the age of 72, leaving £20,000.
0:36:08 > 0:36:11Are you related to William?
0:36:11 > 0:36:14Can you prove you're entitled to his cash?
0:36:14 > 0:36:17John Martin died in July 2005
0:36:17 > 0:36:20in Exeter, Devon, at the age of 61.
0:36:20 > 0:36:24He left behind a small estate of £22,000.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27If you are related to John Martin and can prove it,
0:36:27 > 0:36:30you could be in line for a windfall.
0:36:30 > 0:36:32If you have any information on these cases,
0:36:32 > 0:36:36then take a look at our website -
0:36:46 > 0:36:51It's Friday, the second day on the case of Derek Atkinson,
0:36:51 > 0:36:55who died with no known family, in a care home in East London.
0:36:55 > 0:36:57He never mentioned any family.
0:36:57 > 0:37:02- He did have family but they lost contact many, many years ago.- Right.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05Senior case manager, David Pacifico and his team, still
0:37:05 > 0:37:07don't know the value of the case,
0:37:07 > 0:37:10but they have found out that Derek was illegitimate.
0:37:10 > 0:37:13Through dogged pursuit of the clues, they discover
0:37:13 > 0:37:16that his mother, Nellie, had a brother called Alexander.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19Well, basically, the informant on what I believe is the mother's death
0:37:19 > 0:37:24is the sister-in-law, which means that she may well have had a brother.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27They know that Alexander Atkinson
0:37:27 > 0:37:31and his wife, Nancy, had two children and they will be heirs.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34And today, the race is on to track them down.
0:37:34 > 0:37:38In the hope that it will contain details on the heirs,
0:37:38 > 0:37:42Bob Barrett's just collected Nancy's death certificate.
0:37:42 > 0:37:43- 'Morning, Bob.'- Hiya.
0:37:43 > 0:37:47I've just picked up Nancy Atkinson's death certificate.
0:37:47 > 0:37:53- 'Oh, yeah.'- Widow of Alexander Herbert Bramley Atkinson.
0:37:53 > 0:37:58Informant, John Edward Alexander Atkinson.
0:37:58 > 0:38:01Son in attendance.
0:38:01 > 0:38:05Nancy's death certificate confirms their first heir,
0:38:05 > 0:38:07but the office has already been hard at work
0:38:07 > 0:38:09and David has some news for Bob.
0:38:09 > 0:38:13'We think he's now down in Chichester.'
0:38:13 > 0:38:18- Right.- 'Do you fancy a trip down there?'- Sure.
0:38:18 > 0:38:22- 'What we don't know is where Heather is, the sister.'- Right.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25While the office keep hunting for Heather, John's sister, and also
0:38:25 > 0:38:30a cousin of Derek's, Bob races to Chichester to meet John Atkinson.
0:38:30 > 0:38:35They're hoping he's in and that he hasn't been approached by a rival company.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38At the moment, the way it stands,
0:38:38 > 0:38:42we've only got the possibility of two beneficiaries unless we get
0:38:42 > 0:38:46more information from the family, because we can't be certain that
0:38:46 > 0:38:51the deceased mother may not have had other brothers and sisters,
0:38:51 > 0:38:53although I think it may be unlikely,
0:38:53 > 0:38:56but nonetheless, if anybody should know,
0:38:56 > 0:38:59hopefully he and/or his sister or his cousins.
0:38:59 > 0:39:03John may be able to shed some light on other possible heirs,
0:39:03 > 0:39:06but will he have any idea he had a cousin called Derek,
0:39:06 > 0:39:09who was brought up by the Salvation Army?
0:39:09 > 0:39:11I'm not sure what knowledge they'll have about the cousin,
0:39:11 > 0:39:17because the deceased was brought up not by the mother, it would seem,
0:39:17 > 0:39:19from the initial enquiry.
0:39:19 > 0:39:22In Chichester, it's good news.
0:39:22 > 0:39:24John Atkinson is in.
0:39:24 > 0:39:27I'm Bob Barrett, from a firm called Fraser and Fraser.
0:39:27 > 0:39:30- We're probate researchers.- Yes.
0:39:30 > 0:39:34And even better, Bob's got there before the competition,
0:39:34 > 0:39:37thanks to the heir hunters' hard work.
0:39:37 > 0:39:41We believe that you are an heir to some money and we'd like to act
0:39:41 > 0:39:43- for you to claim the money.- Right.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46So what is this particular estate?
0:39:46 > 0:39:48Unless it is a very close relative,
0:39:48 > 0:39:53- we don't disclose who it is until a person has become a client.- Right.
0:39:53 > 0:39:57Bob's keeping his information close to his chest and to double check
0:39:57 > 0:40:02if John is their man, Bob asks him some basic family questions.
0:40:02 > 0:40:07- Your father was Alexander Herbert Bramley Atkinson.- That's right.
0:40:07 > 0:40:11So far so good, but John has a surprise for Bob.
0:40:11 > 0:40:16He had two sisters who lived in Worthing.
0:40:16 > 0:40:19Do you remember the names?
0:40:19 > 0:40:23One was called Winifred.
0:40:23 > 0:40:25That's a turn up for the books.
0:40:25 > 0:40:30Frasers thought Nellie only had a brother, Alexander, John's father,
0:40:30 > 0:40:32but now they know she also had a sister, Winifred...
0:40:32 > 0:40:37but did Winifred marry or have children?
0:40:37 > 0:40:40- Did she marry?- No. She didn't.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42- Any children?- No.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45So John is confident there are no heirs through Winifred,
0:40:45 > 0:40:48but does he know about his cousin, Derek?
0:40:48 > 0:40:52And the other sister was called Nellie...
0:40:54 > 0:40:55Atkinson.
0:40:55 > 0:40:57Did she marry?
0:40:57 > 0:41:00No. No children.
0:41:00 > 0:41:04So John has no idea about Derek.
0:41:04 > 0:41:08Clearly, he was a family secret and Bob decides to leave it that way,
0:41:08 > 0:41:12as John says he'd like to speak to his sister, Heather, before signing.
0:41:12 > 0:41:13- Nice to meet you.- And you.
0:41:13 > 0:41:18Thanks. Thanks very much for seeing me at such short notice.
0:41:18 > 0:41:20- It's been very interesting. - Hope we meet again.
0:41:20 > 0:41:25- I shall be in touch, anyway, give the company a ring and take it from there.- Thanks a lot. Bye-bye.
0:41:25 > 0:41:27Bye then.
0:41:28 > 0:41:30The Atkinson case is a prime example
0:41:30 > 0:41:33of why heir hunting can be so challenging.
0:41:33 > 0:41:37Secrets that have been hidden for generations are uncovered
0:41:37 > 0:41:40and laid bare through the simple act of ordering up a birth certificate.
0:41:40 > 0:41:44Bob Barrett phones the news in to David.
0:41:44 > 0:41:46What did he know about the family?
0:41:46 > 0:41:49Very little. There was another sister.
0:41:49 > 0:41:54- Right.- The other sister, Winifred, was also a spinster.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57Now, she died sometime in the '70s in Worthing.
0:41:57 > 0:42:02- Yeah.- And Nellie, who he believed was a spinster with no issue.
0:42:02 > 0:42:07So he didn't know that Nellie had any issue?
0:42:07 > 0:42:11- No.- He'll be surprised when he learns that his aunt may have been a spinster with a child.
0:42:11 > 0:42:13Exactly. Yeah.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16- So that's it then. Thanks, Bob. - Cheers.
0:42:16 > 0:42:19Bye.
0:42:19 > 0:42:25After a day and a half of solid investigation, they found the heirs to Derek Atkinson's estate.
0:42:25 > 0:42:28If Winifred dies, no issue, then we're left with just John
0:42:28 > 0:42:31and his sister as the only two claimants on this.
0:42:31 > 0:42:35In the end, John did find out that he had a cousin, Derek,
0:42:35 > 0:42:38and decided to file his own claim.
0:42:38 > 0:42:41Because of this, Frasers will never know how much
0:42:41 > 0:42:42Derek Atkinson left behind.
0:42:44 > 0:42:48The minimum value of any estate on the government's list is £5,000,
0:42:48 > 0:42:51but as far as the exact amount,
0:42:51 > 0:42:53rather like Derek Atkinson himself,
0:42:53 > 0:42:56it remains a family secret.
0:43:21 > 0:43:23Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd