Legal News | 17.07.25

Bona Vacantia and the Unclaimed Estates List

Last week, the official list for people who have died with unclaimed estates in England and Wales was removed from the GOV.UK webpage. This comes after a BBC investigation found evidence that crime gangs were using the list to create fake Wills and claim inheritance to previously unclaimed estates. It is not known when the list will be republished.

The Unclaimed Estates List is published by the ‘Bona Vacantia’ Division of the Government Legal Department (which is Latin for ‘ownerless goods’). It provides details of estates which have been unclaimed, typically because an individual has died alone with no direct or immediate family contact and with no known valid Will. Each year as many as 2,000 new estates are added to the list, which is often scoured for legitimate purposes by heir hunters who try to track down the heirs to the unclaimed estates. An heir to an unclaimed estate has up to 30 years after death to make a claim for the inheritance either as a direct descendant or beneficiary in a Will. After 30 years, if unclaimed, the estate becomes the absolute property of the Crown.

The list and recent claims of its abuse is a timely reminder of the importance of making a valid Will. Without a Will, the law dictates who receives your property and possessions after your death. The rules are strict and may not reflect your wishes. A Will which is regularly updated is the best way to ensure the people you want to benefit from your estate do indeed benefit. If you have a Will, it can also be useful for someone (for example, your appointed executor) to know where it is located, although you do not need to make them aware of the contents.

If you would like to discuss your Will, please email us at wealth@wansbroughs.com.