We deal with the Duchy of Lancaster in bona vacantia cases - in relation to the property and assets of value. Obviously it is when people die without a will (or a will cannot be found) and no known living relatives. The investigation takes some time and during that period we secure the assets and if asked sell them unless they appear ot be family heirlooms.
I have never known a case where the deceased was not male. In one case the man was 59, two weeks into retirement from the Post Office after 40 years and had bought new Kia.
In another, we found a next of kin, but it turned out that the person was the recently divorced ex-husband of the sister of the deceased and the sister had died just before her brother. So the ex-brother-in-law did not count and the money went to the Crown.
It can be fascinating.
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