Birmingham currently has 146 unclaimed estates listed, potentially entitling residents to significant inheritances. These estates, detailed on the Bona Vacantia (BV) list, belong to individuals who died intestate-that is, without a will-and without any known next of kin.
When someone passes away intestate, their estate is classified as ‘vacant goods’ and may be claimed by the Crown if no heirs come forward. Family members and other entitled heirs have a period of 12 years to claim these estates once they have been reported as unclaimed to the Crown.
Simonne Llewellyn, CEO of Finders International, a UK-based firm specialising in probate genealogy, emphasised the importance of public awareness regarding unclaimed estates in the Midlands. She commented, “We want to highlight that more than 280 estates are waiting to be claimed from the government, which currently holds the fortunes of over five thousand estates across England and Wales. Often, relatives still living locally may be entitled to these inheritances.”
She further explained that it is quite common for individuals to be rightful beneficiaries of estates belonging to people they barely knew or perhaps did not know at all. The Bona Vacantia website lists estates valued at over £500, although it does not disclose the specific financial details.
Claiming an unclaimed estate can be complex and sometimes costly, requiring claimants to demonstrate their relationship to the deceased. This typically involves compiling a comprehensive family tree with marriage and birth dates, alongside official certificates for each individual linking the claimant to the deceased.
Llewellyn also pointed out that inheritance is often shared among multiple claimants. “Meticulous research is crucial to ensure estates are properly administered, reducing future disputes and guaranteeing a fair and legal distribution among all entitled heirs. It is an essential part of the legal process that everyone entitled to an intestate estate is identified and receives their due.”
The most recent names listed on the Birmingham Bona Vacantia register include:
- John Roberts Marson (04/11/2025)
- Mark Harrison (25/02/2025)
- John Ward (10/12/2024)
- Ella Elizabeth Quarrell (07/11/2024)
- Frank Harrison (23/05/2023)
- Matthew Standley (12/05/2023)
- Michael Tehrani (04/04/2023)
- George Christopher Keasey (09/01/2023)
- Georgina Reynolds (11/09/2022)
- Arkadiusz Leszek Granek (25/01/2022)
In neighbouring areas within the Midlands, Wolverhampton has 27 unclaimed estates, Walsall 16, and West Bromwich 11.
The Government Legal Department reinstated the Bona Vacantia unclaimed estates list in January 2026 after a temporary suspension in July 2025 aimed at preventing fraud. To maintain the list’s integrity, only limited data is now published, although sufficient information remains available to help potential heirs identify their relatives.