The heir hunters are hired to find heirs who will inherit property or money.If a person dies without a will, heir hunters research genealogy records to find out who will inherit.They use sleuthing skills to find the heir.The heir hunter informs the person of their inheritance if they are located.An heir hunter can work for a large firm or be self-employed.
Step 1: You can make a family tree diagram.
If you're new to genealogy, your family is a good place to start.You can write your name in the center of the piece of paper.Write your siblings' names on the side of your name.These are people from your generation.Write your parents names above your name.This is a new generation.Go back to your maternal and paternal grandparents.This is a good place to start with genealogy records.Continue to add people's names, descending from your grandparents.If a child has been adopted, they are considered to have the same place within the family line as a blood relation.If a child has not been formally adopted, they will not be included in the family tree.It is a good practice to work by hand with computer programs and online pages.
Step 2: Take classes in genealogy.
It is possible to determine the family line of the deceased by having a good education in genealogy.You can take these classes online.You can learn how to access court records in a genealogy class.If you want to start being an heir hunter, you should take classes specific to the research of vital records or military records.
Step 3: Talk to an heir hunter
There is no substitute for talking with someone who works in heir hunting.You should ask about heir hunting laws in your area.The best way to find an heir hunter in your region is to contact a professional organization, such as the Association of Professional Genealogists.Make a list of questions to ask the heir hunter.How long have they been in this line of work?Is there a second source of income for them?They started to work as heir hunters.Have they been satisfied with the work?What would they have liked to know?It is possible for your own questions to reflect your interests and concerns.The person you are talking to may be willing to allow you to observe them at work.All work done is confidential.
Step 4: Go to your state to register.
There is no licensure requirement for people who are starting in heir hunting.Many states require a performance bond of $10,000 to be paid to the State Treasurer's Office as security against fraudulent or mistaken claims.A copy of the agreement made with the client in the State Treasury Department is required by most states.A heir hunter may be self-employed or work for a larger organization.The heir hunter should be a business with the state if the latter is the case.
Step 5: You should be a professional.
There are requirements that must be met in order to register as a business in your state.If you want to start your own business, you should build a website.A simple website will suffice.You'll need a business card with your contact information if you want to use social media.Do you want to focus on any particular area?You can choose to only take cases in your state of residence or focus on genealogy.Make your specialty clear up front if this is the case.
Step 6: If the deceased left a will, you should check it out.
The will may have been written a long time ago.The heirs may have changed their names, moved to a new city or country, or be difficult to trace.The estate of the deceased will be given to the state if the heirs are not located.This legal document has precedent over existing relationships if there is a will.The heir hunter will have to determine who their nearest relative is if the person died without a will.
Step 7: If you want to research the deceased's genealogy, you have to do it.
Many records in local courthouses are still available for genealogy research.Birth certificates, marriage certificates and death certificates are some of the records that you'll be looking for.If the deceased did not leave a will, their estate goes to their nearest living relative.In the United States, this is known as the Next of Kin, while in the UK and Ireland it is called Nearest Relations.Each country has a prioritized order of class.A husband or wife is the most important person in a country.In countries where same-sex marriages are not legal, the next of kin would be a biological child.The nearest relation to the deceased would be a parent.There are copies of certificates for births, deaths and marriages.The accuracy of your notes and historical analysis will be ensured by having copies of the originals.
Step 8: Take paternal and maternal grandparents.
The next-of-kin will be found if the deceased did not have an obvious heir.The next class of closest relations are the children of the grandparents.The next class of closest relations are the children of the aunts and uncles.You need a record of a living person to continue tracing relationships of the dead.When there are multiple heirs of the same class, the estate will be divided evenly.Don't accept assurances from family members that there are no additional heirs.Affirmatives should always be confirmed with your own research.
Step 9: Make sure that your research has accurate facts.
When researching families, take careful notes.If you get notes from somewhere else, make sure they are clear.Clarifying details may not be clear.Transferring paper notes to digital formats should be done correctly and clearly.All digital files should be backed up.You can use online storage as well as external hard drives.Common sense should be used when assessing information.Keep your questions simple and logical.Don't make assumptions and do not overlook anything.The consequences of missing a birth, death, adoption or marriage can result in an entire family line being disinherited.
Step 10: There is a website that allows you to search online.
You can enter all of the information on the next-of-kin into an online search engine.The person's last known residence, city or state should be included.You can include this in your search if they've been known to use a nickname.A phone number can be used to locate a person.If you have a phone number for the next-of-kin, even if it's no longer a working number, a search engine may be able to connect you to the person you're looking for.The Social Security Death Index is called the Death Master File.The database of deaths in the United States held by the Social Security Administration is available to a number of commercial websites.There are clues as to how to locate missing relatives on online social networks.You can find the next-of-kin through social media.
Step 11: Go to the last known location of the next-of-kin.
Sometimes you need to travel to a location on your own, even though online tools offer a lot of assistance.Check with homeless shelters, hospitals, schools and prisons.You can read the local arrest records.The person may have a history with a particular faith tradition.Don't be afraid to ask questions.Don't give your contact information to anyone who may be useful.Sharing your general purpose in searching for the heir is fine, but don't give personal details.Use tact and discretion.
Step 12: You can place an ad in the local paper.
Explain the purpose of your search and who you're looking for.Don't expose them to undue exposure by including as much relevant information as you can.If you have a photo of a person, include it in your ad.Personal information should not be included in the public arena.Use your best judgement.For the purposes of this posting, you might want to create an email account or phone number.This will allow you to keep your professional and personal life out of the public eye.
Step 13: It's a good idea to confirm the information.
The person you believe to be the next-of-kin must be identified as thoroughly as your initial research was.Check all forms of valid ID, including birth certificate, passport, driver's license or state identification card.If the relation is distant or the last encounter was many years ago, the person may not have any recollection of the deceased.Questions about extended family members or locations where the person you've been searching for should be asked.If you don't know the identity of the heir, you should not talk about the estate.
Step 14: Be aware that family relations can be shaky.
There may be an estrangement between the heir and the deceased.The heir will not have known of the death.The heir hunter should not ask "How much money will I get?".How did the deceased die?Regardless of the size, there may be strong emotional reactions to receiving an inheritance.The heir hunter should be aware of his situation.When talking about a family situation, always use tact and discretion.The heir hunter should present information in a way that is respectful and solicitous.