The 75 unclaimed Sheffield estates that could make families ‘a small fortune’ in inheritance

Probate genealogy firm Anglia Research, or ‘heir hunters’, have compiled an index of the 15 UK cities and boroughs where most people have died intestate – and no rightful heir has been found.

Using the Bona Vacantia List – which translates to vacant or ownerless property list in Latin – Anglia Research uncovered that Sheffield has 75 unclaimed estates, each potentially worth thousands of pounds, putting the city thirteenth in the list.

Birmingham topped the list with 234 unclaimed estates followed by Camden, Leeds, Westminster and Lambeth.

The top five locations remain unchanged from the last quarter but the number of unclaimed estates in each has increased.

Although it’s not possible to attribute Covid-19 as the cause of death for those who died intestate, it’s not unthinkable that the ongoing pandemic played its part in increasing the number of unclaimed estates.

All of the top locations are within the regions that have been severely impacted by the virus– restrictions on movement and the rising unexpected death count potentially causing a spike in the number of unclaimed estates.

Philip Turvey, executive director at Anglia Research, said: “As we look towards a Covid-19 induced recession, I’m sure that many us would love to get a phone call or letter and find out that we’re due an inheritance from a long-lost family member.

“Probate genealogists, or heir hunters, in the UK are always working to unite the assets from an unclaimed estate with the deceased’s next of kin. So, if you get a phone call from someone saying they’re an heir hunter, don’t turn them away – you might be due a fortune.”

Researchers also used the Bona Vacantia list to determine the most popular last names of those who died without a will.

There are currently 147 people with the last name Smith who died without a will. The surname Jones is in second place with 97, while Taylor is third with 71.

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