Next Event
Bereavement Services E-Conference | 14th May 2024 | 10:30 am | Cost: FREE
Finders International
Missing heirs and unknown next of kin identified and located, plus a full range of estate administration services for private client practitioners, trust companies, Executors and Administrators.
Free services to local authorities, NHS trusts, and hospitals, identifying and locating next of kin. We also trace empty property owners and resolve residential property issues.
Finders International identifies and traces heirs to estates, property, and assets worldwide.
We have won multiple awards for ‘Best UK Probate Research Firm’ and can trace our roots back to 1964. We employ more legally qualified staff than any other UK firm, putting professionalism at the forefront of everything we do.
We serve the public sector, private client legal departments, solicitors, lawyers, trust and estate administration companies and unclaimed asset departments worldwide. We also find missing or unknown owners of empty homes and property.
Beneficiary and customer care is our priority and our staff are the most highly trained in our industry.
We are founder members of the International Association of Professional Probate Researchers, which is the first and most prestigious international regulatory body, which has numerous member companies from around the world.
Following our successful appearances on the BBC series ‘Heir Hunters’ we are recognised as the spokespersons of our industry with over 100 media appearances to our credit. Our amazing and emotional stories show how we have helped enrich and enhance the lives of the beneficiaries we trace.
Heir Hunters
The “Heir Hunters” TV series follows the work of Finders International, multiple award-winning UK Probate Research company, as we search for the heirs of people who have died without a will, leaving their estates unclaimed.
Our rewarding work has also enabled us to reunite families and provide fascinating insights into their pasts.
In addition to tracing missing beneficiaries, we also offer a range of support services helping the beneficiaries we locate with every stage and aspect of the probate or asset reunification processes.
A main firm on BBC1 ‘Heir Hunters’ providing expert forensic genealogy & probate research
Why have we contacted you?
As a firm of probate genealogists, Finders International trace next-of-kin and beneficiaries to estates and reunite assets with their rightful heirs. We also identify and locate owners of empty homes and property.
Our probate research teams work extensively with solicitors in private client, wills and probate and trust teams as well as with the public sector and our international partners.
If we have contacted you, this is because either we believe you may be the beneficiary we are looking for, or you may know the person or family we are seeking. Either way, the work we do is always of financial benefit to the people we trace.
We are a highly accredited firm and many staff have been trained by recognised bereavement, mental health and dementia organisations. We are regulated by the International Association of Professional Probate Researchers (IAPPR) and have numerous legally trained staff and paralegals amongst our team.
Why choose us?
We can often locate next of kin within 24 hours
Over 475 years combined staff experience
News & Media
April 16, 2024
Significant increase in lasting power of attorney registrations in the UK
The UK Family Court's statistics show a significant increase in Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) registrations in 2023, passing a million for the first time. The data, which spans October to December…
April 16, 2024
Empty Homes Training Day 27th June 2024
Empty Homes Training DayWhen : 27th June 2024 | 10:00am – 3:00pm Location : Friends House, London, NW1 Cost : FREE REGISTER FOR THIS EVENTFinders International are hosting FREE Training Day for…
April 8, 2024
Finders International wins at the Modern Law Awards
In recognition of the invaluable support provided to the legal industry across the UK, Finders International, Britain’s largest probate research firm, has won a major category at the Modern Law…
March 26, 2024
Bona Vacantia: Understanding Unclaimed Estates
When individuals pass away without leaving behind a will or known heirs, their estate can go unclaimed. Known as bona vacantia, unclaimed property is transferred to the Crown, in most cases in…
March 22, 2024
21 per cent of probate professionals deal with foreign assets weekly
‘As a probate professional, how often do you deal with estates that have overseas assets?’, asks Louise Levene, International Asset Services Manager. In recent years, there has been a considerable…
March 12, 2024
Legacy-giving, wills and intestacy
Despite people having less to give, charity gifting is still an important part of people’s legacies, according to recent research carried out by the will-writing firm Farewill. More than 25 per cent…
February 15, 2024
The Faces Behind Finders: Joseph Malinsky, Assistant Case Manager, Public Sector Services
How did you get into probate genealogy? For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated by my own family’s history. From my grandfather’s constant stories of times gone by, to building my own…
February 13, 2024
The history of birth certificates
The history and evolution of birth certificates testifies to the intricate interplay between societal development, governance, and individual identity over centuries. Here, we take a deep dive into…
February 9, 2024
The Faces Behind Finders: Lorna Fleming, Private Client Manager, Finders Ireland
How did you get into probate genealogy? I was introduced to probate genealogy by my good friend and work colleague Maeve Mullin and I was bitten by the research bug fairly quickly! What does a normal…
February 2, 2024
The Faces Behind Finders: Heather Gibbon, Public Domain Client Services Case Manager
How did you get into probate genealogy? I have always enjoyed genealogy as a hobby and have been obsessively researching my family tree for 20 years. After working as a Teacher and in child care for…
February 2, 2024
The Faces Behind Finders: Megan Godber, Assistant Case Manager
How did you get into probate genealogy? I’d always been a big fan of Heir Hunters growing up and working in the industry was my dream job! My friend already worked here and suggested I apply, so I…
January 31, 2024
The Faces Behind Finders: Maeve Mullin, Director, Finders Ireland
How did you get into probate genealogy? My father was a keen genealogist back before computers or the internet were invented, he was a pencil and paper in repositories person – I got a love for…
January 25, 2024
Empty Homes Webinar 5-Mar-24
Empty Homes WebinarWhen : 5th March 2024 | 10:30am – 11:15am Location : Online via Livestorm Cost : FREE REGISTER FOR THIS EVENTDiscover innovative solutions for addressing the housing crisis…
January 23, 2024
Social Worker Webinar
Social Worker WebinarWhen: 22nd February 2024 | 10:30am – 11:30am Location: Online, via Livestorm Cost: FREE REGISTER FOR THIS EVENTFinders International are hosting a free event adapted…
January 19, 2024
Finders International receives Feefo Gold Trusted Service Award 2024
Finders International has won the Feefo Gold Trusted Service Award, an independent seal of excellence, which recognises businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience. Feefo…
January 17, 2024
Finders International Announces Mind as Chosen Charity for 2024
At Finders International, we are excited to announce that we have selected Mind as our chosen charity for 2024. As an organisation deeply committed to making a positive impact, we believe that…
January 17, 2024
The Faces Behind Finders: Abigail White, Assistant Case Manager
How did you get into probate genealogy? I’ve always been interested in my own family tree and used to love watching Heir Hunters. When I was at university my MA thesis involved drawing up over 300…
January 12, 2024
The Faces Behind Finders: Ryan Gregory, International Manager
How did you get into probate genealogy? I was 18 years old and working in the financial services sector as an office junior when I received a call from the recruiter (who still does our recruitment…
January 12, 2024
The Faces Behind Finders: Tahlia Migliorati, Case Manager, Public Sector Team
How did you get into probate genealogy? I have always had a passion for genealogy but didn’t think there was any way of doing it as a career. Once I graduated university I was struggling to figure…
January 12, 2024
Beyond the Archives: The Modern Approach to UK Probate Research
Over the last 10 years, the traditional image of researchers poring over dusty archives has given way to a modern approach that leverages technology, databases, and innovative methodologies. The…