Unclaimed Estates UK: How to Search the Bona Vacantia List and Make a Claim

What Is Bona Vacantia?

Bona vacantia is Latin for "ownerless goods". In England and Wales, when a person dies intestate - without a valid will - and has no surviving blood relatives entitled under the intestacy rules, their entire estate passes automatically to the Crown.

The Bona Vacantia Division (BVD) of the Government Legal Department administers these estates on behalf of the Crown. BVD receives referrals from solicitors, local authorities, coroners and others who identify that an estate may have no entitled heirs. Each referred estate is added to the published list.

The estates can include any type of asset: bank accounts, savings, investment portfolios, freehold or leasehold property, personal possessions, vehicles and business interests. Some estates on the list contain only modest sums; others include valuable London properties worth considerably more.

The Intestacy Order: Who Has Priority to Claim

Whether an estate becomes bona vacantia depends entirely on whether any person entitled under the intestacy rules survives the deceased. The statutory order of priority under the Administration of Estates Act 1925 is:

1. Spouse or civil partner
2. Children (including adopted children)
3. Parents
4. Siblings of the whole blood
5. Siblings of the half blood
6. Grandparents
7. Aunts and uncles of the whole blood (and their children)
8. Aunts and uncles of the half blood (and their children)

Only if none of these relatives survive does the estate pass to the Crown. Note that unmarried partners have no automatic entitlement under intestacy rules, regardless of the length of the relationship.

How to Search the Bona Vacantia List

The BVD publishes the unclaimed estates list as a CSV file at gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/unclaimed-estates-list. The list is updated regularly - the most recent update was 29 June 2026.

Each entry on the list contains the deceased person name, date of death, and the town or county where they lived. The list does not show estate values. To search effectively:

• Download the CSV file and open it in a spreadsheet application such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets
• Search by surname, first name and approximate location
• Cross-reference against death certificates from the General Register Office if you need to verify identity
• The list only covers estates being administered by BVD - if the person you are looking for is not listed, BVD is not dealing with their estate

The Gazette also publishes unclaimed estates notices placed by the Government Legal Department (notice code 2904), which can supplement the BVD list.

Who Can Make a Claim

Any person who believes they are entitled under the intestacy rules can make a claim to BVD directly. This includes:

• A person who believes they are a blood relative entitled under the statutory order
• A person administering the estate of someone who was themselves entitled but has since died, provided that entitled person died after the intestate

Unmarried partners cannot claim as a relative, but may be able to apply for a grant from the estate under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 if they were financially dependent on the deceased or lived together immediately before the death. This is a separate and more complex process.

How to Make a Claim: Step by Step

BVD requires you to prove both your identity and your relationship to the deceased before any assets are released. The process involves:

1. Build a complete family tree - starting from the deceased and working outward to show all potential relatives and why no one with higher priority survives
2. Gather certificates - birth, marriage and death certificates for every person on the family tree, covering marriages and name changes. Certificates must be official copies
3. Prove your own identity - passport or driving licence plus proof of address
4. Submit to BVD - send the family tree, certificates and a covering letter explaining your relationship to the Bona Vacantia Division, Government Legal Department, 1 Ruskin Square, Croydon CR0 2WF. Email: BVDEstateClaims@governmentlegal.gov.uk
5. Wait for review - BVD typically reviews and responds to complete claims within 4 to 8 weeks

Heir Hunters: Should You Use One?

Heir hunters are professional genealogists who monitor the bona vacantia list, research family trees and contact potential beneficiaries - usually in exchange for a percentage of the estate value. Typical commission rates range from 10% to 25%, though some firms have charged as much as 40%.

You are not required to use a heir hunter. You can search the list yourself and make a direct claim to BVD at no cost. The advantage of doing so is that you retain the full value of any entitlement. The main disadvantage is that researching a complex family tree and gathering certificates across multiple generations can be time-consuming and technically demanding.

If a heir hunter contacts you, you are under no obligation to sign any agreement before seeking independent legal advice. Before agreeing to any commission arrangement, verify that the estate is still open for claims, confirm the approximate value, and calculate the fee you would pay.

What Happens If No Claim Is Made

If no valid claim is made within the time limits, the estate becomes the permanent property of the Crown. BVD will either hold the assets or, in the case of property, sell at full market value - usually at public auction. BVD does not sell privately at a discount to any individual.

The Treasury Solicitor receives approximately 2,000 new bona vacantia estate referrals each year across England and Wales. Estates range in value from a few hundred pounds to properties worth millions.

Scotland and Northern Ireland

Bona vacantia rules differ outside England and Wales. In Scotland, ownerless estates fall to the Crown under the doctrine of ultimus haeres. The King's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer (KLTR) administers these estates. In Northern Ireland, the Crown Solicitor's Office handles equivalent cases. The GOV.UK list covers England and Wales only.

Preventing Your Own Estate from Becoming Bona Vacantia

The only certain way to prevent your estate passing to the Crown is to make a legally valid will. A will lets you name the people you want to inherit, appoint an executor to administer your estate, and provide for people who would not inherit under the intestacy rules - including unmarried partners, stepchildren and friends.

If your circumstances change through marriage, divorce, the birth of children or significant changes in assets, your will should be reviewed and updated accordingly.

What is bona vacantia in the UK?

Bona vacantia means ownerless goods. In England and Wales, when a person dies intestate and has no surviving blood relatives entitled under the intestacy rules, their estate passes to the Crown under bona vacantia law. The Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department administers these estates.

How do I search for unclaimed estates in England and Wales?

Download the CSV file from gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/unclaimed-estates-list. The list is updated regularly and was last updated on 29 June 2026. Open the file in a spreadsheet application and search by the deceased person's name and location.

How long do I have to claim a bona vacantia estate?

Claims made within 12 years of the completion of administration of the estate are paid with interest. Claims made up to 30 years from the date of death can still be accepted but will not include interest. No claim can be made after 30 years and there is no discretion to extend this limit.

Does it cost anything to claim an unclaimed estate?

No fee is charged to make a claim directly to the Bona Vacantia Division. You can search the list and submit a claim yourself at no cost. Heir hunters charge a commission of typically 10 to 25 percent of the estate value but you are not required to use one.

Can an unmarried partner claim a bona vacantia estate?

Unmarried partners have no automatic entitlement under the intestacy rules and cannot claim as a blood relative. However, a cohabiting partner who was financially dependent on the deceased may be able to apply under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. This is a separate process requiring a court application.

What happens if nobody claims an unclaimed estate?

If no valid claim is made within 30 years of the date of death, the estate becomes the permanent property of the Crown. Property is usually sold at public auction at full market value.