Heir Hunters - Stars of the Show

Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value – Albert Einstein

I researched a case that involved English/Irish/American research. Multi-national research can be particularly challenging and in this instance it was no different…

Favourite part of the job

Getting stuck into a difficult piece of research and the satisfaction that comes later with a job well done.

Rewarding experiences

Having the opportunity to reunite a large group of siblings that had been fostered out separately at very young ages after their mother died during childbirth and their father unfortunately couldn’t cope.

Receiving my first warm hearted ‘thank you’ from an heir. The inheritance they received wasn’t particularly large in terms of monetary value, but the family history recorded within the family tree we were able to provide was priceless to someone that hadn’t known that side of her ancestry.

Most interesting case to date

I researched a case that involved English/Irish/American research. Multi-national research can be particularly challenging and in this instance it was no different. The majority of the family emigrated from Ireland in the 1890s to the United States, where they then dispersed across several states and promptly lost contact with each other. I did eventually trace entitled relatives and along the way I learnt a valuable lesson or two about Irish research that I will never forget – the Irish have unusual nicknames – who knew that Delia is a nickname for Bridget or that Molly is an alternative for Josephine?! I didn’t, but I do now!!

Tea, pencil, ruler, Go.

I researched a case comprising of a sizeable Estate in the UK, but the Deceased gentleman’s family were farm owners in The Ukraine. It has stuck in my mind because the research was typically difficult, given the geo-political history of the region and the pitfalls of tracing heirs overseas…

Favourite part of the job

When I get the opportunity to tell someone they’ll be receiving a life changing sum of money.

Rewarding experiences

Working my first million pound case. Arranging a family reunion for the Heir Hunters show. Reaching the milestone of ten years’ service at Finders.

Most interesting case to date

I researched a case comprising of a sizeable Estate in the UK, but the Deceased gentleman’s family were farm owners in The Ukraine. It has stuck in my mind because the research was typically difficult, given the geo-political history of the region and the pitfalls of tracing heirs overseas. However, we traced all the entitled family members and each of them benefited from a large windfall, at a time when the world was going through the recent recession.