People who are in line to inherit property or money are referred to as heir hunters.If a person doesn't have a will, heir hunters research genealogy records to find out who their heir would be.They use sleuthing skills to find the heir.The heir hunter informs the person of their inheritance when they are located.An heir hunter may work for a large firm or be self-employed.
Step 1: A family tree diagram is needed.
If you're new to genealogy, your family is a good place to start.You can write your name in the center of the paper.Write your siblings' names on the side of your name.The members of your generation are here.Write your parents names above your name.This is a new generation.Go back to your paternal and maternal grandparents.This is a good place to start looking for genealogy records.Continue to add people's names, descending from your grandparents.If a child is adopted, they are considered to have the same place within the family line as a blood relation.The legal framework of the family tree excludes children who have not been formally adopted.It's a good practice to work by hand with computer programs and online pages.
Step 2: Take genealogy classes.
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 on the research of vital records or military records.
Step 3: Talk to an heir hunter.
There is no substitute for talking with someone who is 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?How did they start 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: You have to register in your state.
States have different requirements for people who are starting in heir hunting.A performance bond of $10,000 is required by many states for 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 can work for a larger organization or be self-employed.The heir hunter should be registered with the state if the latter is the case.
Step 5: You should establish yourself as 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 need a business card with your contact information if you want to use social media.Do you want to focus on any area?You can choose to only take cases in your state of residence or focus on genealogy.Make sure your specialty is clear up front if this is the case.
Step 6: If the deceased left a will, you should check it.
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 locate.The estate of the deceased will be given to the state if no heirs are found.This legal document has precedent over existing relationships if there is a will.The heir hunter will have to find out who their nearest relative is if the person died without a will.
Step 7: You can research the deceased's genealogy.
There are many records in local courthouses that can be used for genealogy research.Birth certificates, marriage certificates and death certificates are some of the records that you'll be looking for.If the deceased didn't 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 most countries.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: Maternal and paternal grandparents can be traced.
The next-of-kin will be found if the deceased did not have an obvious heir.The next class of closest relatives are the children of the grandparents.The next class of closest relations are the children of the aunts and uncles, both paternal and maternal.You need a record of a living person to continue tracing relationships of the deceased.When there are multiple heirs of the same class, the estate will be divided equally.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 your research contains accurate facts.
Carefully and thoroughly research families.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.When assessing information, use common sense.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 unintentionally disinherited.
Step 10: Search online.
You can enter the information you have on the next-of-kin into an online search engine.The person's last known residence, city or state should be included.If they have used a nickname, include it in your search.A phone number can be used to find a person.If you still have a phone number for the next-of-kin, 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 made available to a number of commercial websites.There are clues as to how to locate missing relatives on online social networks.Through social media, you may find your next-of-kin.
Step 11: The location of the next-of-kin is known.
Sometimes you need to travel to a location on your own, but 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 might be useful.Sharing your 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 or on bulletin boards.
Explain the purpose of your search and who you're looking for.Don't expose them to too much 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: Identifying information should be confirmed.
The person you believe to be the next-of-kin must be identified as thoroughly as possible.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.The heir's identity should be confirmed before you relay the details of the estate.
Step 14: Family relations may be fragile.
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 size, there may be strong emotional reactions to receiving an inheritance.The heir hunter needs to be aware of his situation.When talking about the family situation, always use tact and discretion.The heir hunter should present information in a respectful and solicitous manner.