Payments Explained

If we believe that you are a potential beneficiary to an Estate on which we are working you may have already received an Agreement from us which we ask you to sign, date and return. This Agreement specifies our commission, which is how we are paid for successfully locating beneficiaries when working on a contingency fee basis.

If you have any questions about our commission Agreement which are not answered below you are welcome to contact us or take independent advice. You might also find these pages helpful:

Having confirmed you as a beneficiary, we will provide you with information about the Deceased and your details will be entered into our confidential report. This is then sent to the solicitors acting for the Estate. At this point we write to you again to notify you that this has been done and to provide you with their contact details.

We can only be paid when you receive your money and please be reassured that you cannot inherit a debt. There is absolutely no question of any advance or direct payment from you to us at any time. Your queries throughout will be answered promptly and without charge.

How are you paid?

When a person dies with no known next of kin there is often no one who can authorise payment from the Estate in order to trace potential beneficiaries. This is a problem which can lead to an estate remaining unclaimed forever and, therefore, persons who would be entitled to an inheritance may never hear of their windfall. When we learn of such situations, Finders has a choice. We can either:

  • Do nothing and let the estate remain unclaimed; or
  • Fund an investigation from our own resources in the hope that we may find surviving heirs at the end of our research.

If we choose to fund an investigation ourselves and do not find any heirs still living, we are forced to write off our investment.

If we do find people who stand to benefit, we ask them to sign a commission agreement with us. We are then paid a part of the beneficiary's net share of the estate, but only at the same time as the beneficiary.

Sometimes solicitors handling an estate are already aware of one or more existing heirs, but may still ask us to work independently as this is usually the quickest, fairest and most effective way of attempting to find others equally entitled.

Are there any hidden charges in addition to your commission?

Absolutely not. Beneficiaries who sign Finders commission agreement never part with any money from their own pocket.

What happens after I sign the agreement?

The simple answer is you wait for your cheque!

Finders will compile a detailed report which will then be submitted to the solicitors responsible for winding up the estate. We will notify you in writing when this has been done.

In due course you will be sent your inheritance, but if you require any updates or further information whilst you are waiting to receive your money you can contact us at any time.

Print pagePrintable Version

Quicklinks

Accreditations

Association of Professional Genealogists   Finders is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists
Expert Witness Directory   Finders are a checked and approved firm in the Expert Witness Directory
Aviva   We are Missing Beneficiary Indemnity Insurance agents for Aviva (formerly Norwich Union) & authorised & regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
read more...
See all Credentials & Accreditations