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Hunting heirs

13 October 2011 / Daniel Curran
Issue: 7485 / Categories: Features , Wills & Probate , Family , Insurance / reinsurance
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Daniel Curran explains how to recognise a professional probate genealogist & why you need one

In recent years there has been an explosion of interest in family history in the UK. Television shows like the BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are? or ITV’s Family Reunion, have inspired amateur genealogists, assisted by a range of websites dedicated to the creation of family trees encouraging us to find our roots.

The legal sphere has correspondingly seen growth in the number of small firms offering probate genealogy or “heir hunter” services. While these can prove a tempting offering to solicitors––there is a strong case for bringing in the professionals when an estate is at stake.

Compliance & managing risk

Risk management has never been more important, as illustrated by a recent case where the solicitors were in touch with the deceased’s sister, who swore that the deceased’s other sibling died without issue. In this case, the solicitors found that the deceased’s pre-deceased sibling had a son disowned when it became apparent he had serious

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

DWF—19 appointments

DWF—19 appointments

Belfast team bolstered by three senior hires and 16 further appointments

Cadwalader—Andro Atlaga

Cadwalader—Andro Atlaga

Firm strengthens leveraged finance team with London partner hire

Knights—Ella Dodgson & Rebecca Laffan

Knights—Ella Dodgson & Rebecca Laffan

Double hire marks launch of family team in Leeds

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Small law firms want to embrace technology but feel lost in a maze of jargon, costs and compliance fears, writes Aisling O’Connell of the Solicitors Regulation Authority in this week's NLJ
Artificial intelligence may be revolutionising the law, but its misuse could wreck cases and careers, warns Clare Arthurs of Penningtons Manches Cooper in this week's NLJ
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