header-logo header-logo

Solving secrets

08 August 2013 / Michael Tringham
Issue: 7572 / Categories: Features , Wills & Probate
printer mail-detail
rexfeatures_2293718ji

Michael Tringham recalls tales of heir-hunting

Secrets seem to run in families, from changes of gender to secret marriages, as our intestacy stories regularly demonstrate on popular BBC TV documentaries Heir Hunters and Who Do You Think You Are?. Add the other factors that cause families to lose contact—wars, divorces, family quarrels, politics—and it’s no surprise that case files can read like sensational novels and that for probate researchers life is rarely dull.

Wartime antics

A case dating back to World War One involved an Australian soldier wounded in France and nursed back to health in England, where he married, had a son—then disappeared back to Australia. When his English son died, it was discovered that his English marriage was bigamous. The news was conveyed to the Australian’s remaining family Down Under, one of whom said: “Granddad never wanted to talk about his wartime experiences—now we know why!”

Spies who loved…

Sometimes personal tragedies are uncovered—as with Mary Loraine, who died intestate in a domestic fire in 1973, a virtual recluse about to be

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
back-to-top-scroll