Angela Lewis passed away at 82 without leaving a will, leaving no clear heir to her £75,000 estate. Living in a nursing home and suffering from dementia, she had no children or close family, making it uncertain what would happen to her assets.
The story, reported by the Manchester Evening News, reveals how Finders International undertook the task of locating Angela’s rightful heirs. Our research led to Conchita Boothman, a first-cousin-once-removed, who had been unaware of Angela’s existence. Initially sceptical, Conchita recalled, “When I got the letter from Finders International I was totally surprised. I was a bit dubious at first but did my own research.”
One of five beneficiaries, the 53-year-old knew little about her paternal family due to her parents’ divorce. “It was astounding to hear this as I didn’t know very much about my own father or my father’s family,” she said.
Reflecting on the unexpected inheritance, Conchita found it bittersweet, saddened by never having met Angela. She plans to use the funds for home repairs and is grateful for the connection to her family’s past.
Simonne Llewellyn, CEO of Finders International, noted, “Families are often dispersed, with extended relatives unaware of each other. Emigration, divorce, remarriages, and illness often create knowledge gaps.” Without such efforts, estates like Angela’s could remain unclaimed and eventually pass to the Crown under bona vacantia laws.
Read the full story on the Manchester Evening News website here.