Watch Heir Hunters

2009
4 Seasons

Heir Hunters is a British television series that premiered on BBC One in 2007. It follows the work of professional probate genealogists who track down living relatives of people who have died without leaving a will or any known heirs. When someone dies without any apparent heirs, their estate is at risk of being claimed by the Crown, but Heir Hunters works tirelessly to find distant relatives who may have a claim to it.

Each episode of the show features a case that the Heir Hunters team is working on. The cases generally involve tracing the family tree of the deceased person through various records such as birth, marriage, and death certificates, as well as census records, wills, and other legal documents. The team uses this information to find living relatives who may have a claim to the estate.

Throughout the show, viewers get to follow the Heir Hunters team as they travel across the UK (and sometimes even further afield) to meet with potential heirs and track down missing pieces of the puzzle. The show is full of suspense and drama, as the team races against the clock to find the rightful heirs before the estate is claimed by the Crown.

One of the things that sets Heir Hunters apart from other genealogy shows is its focus on the legal and financial aspects of probate genealogy. The show explains the intricacies of probate law and how it applies to each case, as well as the potential financial windfall for the heirs involved. Viewers also get to see the emotional impact that discovering a lost inheritance can have on the heirs who are reunited with their familyâs history.

Another unique aspect of the show is its format. Each episode is divided into two parts: the first half focuses on the case at hand, while the second half introduces new cases and revisits previous ones to give viewers updates on how theyâve progressed. This format allows viewers to become invested in multiple cases at once and track the progress of each one over time.

Heir Hunters has been praised for its informative approach to probate genealogy and its ability to make a potentially dry subject matter exciting and engaging. The show has also been credited with raising public awareness of the importance of making a will and keeping it up to date to avoid the possibility of an unclaimed estate.

The show has been a hit with audiences and has run for over a decade, with multiple seasons under its belt. It has also spawned spin-off shows in other countries, including Australia and Canada. Heir Hunters remains a popular and beloved show for fans of genealogy and true crime alike.

In conclusion, Heir Hunters is a thrilling and informative show about probate genealogy that follows a team of professional genealogists who work to track down living relatives of deceased individuals who have left no will or known heirs. Viewers get to follow the team as they solve complex family puzzles and reunite heirs with lost family history and, potentially, unexpected inheritance. With its unique format and informative approach, Heir Hunters has become one of the most beloved and long-running genealogy shows on British television.

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Seasons

4 3

20. Greatrex/Gaweda

February 12, 2010

This episode shows how lightning really does strike twice as the heir hunters uncover an amazing coincidence when they investigate the case of old school gent, Douglas Greatrex. He died in Birmingham in August 2009 not far from where he had lived for most of his life. As the team get to work tracking down his blood relatives, of which there are many, they come across one who makes them do a double take. They realise they have been here before and only eight months earlier. Meanwhile heir hunters from Celtic Research are looking into the case of Polish soldier, Tadeusz Gaweda, who passed away in 1991 in Forest Hill, South London. His case had remained unsolved for many years until Hector Birchwood from Celtic decided to take it on. After making some headway it isn't long before Hector's back up against a brick wall. He finds heirs only to lose them again, but will he be able to bring the hunt back on track? This story sees the investigation cross several European borders as it unravels a tale of slave labour and Second World War suffering and hardship.

19. Smith/Wise

February 11, 2010

The heir hunters struggle to trace a family with the most common surname in the country as they look into the case of Harold Herbert Smith - known as Bert to his friends. He passed away in Surrey in December 2008 leaving behind him a substantial estate in the region of 400,000 pounds. As the team become frustrated trying to identify the correct Smith family, a helpful neighbour comes up trumps. But will this be enough to help the heir hunters find their needle in the haystack? Meanwhile Fraser and Fraser's Case Manager, Simon Grosvenor, has been investigating the case of John Wise. John passed away in February 2008 at the age of 78 and represented the classic story of a working class boy done good. He may not have owned his own home but when he died he left behind him a staggering 300,000 pounds in his bank account. As Case Manager Simon delves deeper into John's story in his search for heirs, he also discovers a brilliant economist whose grasp of money was far from what you'd expect.

18. Perkins/Routledge

February 10, 2010

Joyce Logan died aged 87 in February 2008. She had been married to Raymond Perkins for 51 years but they never had children. The heir hunters begin working the case but because Joyce had no children or siblings, everything hangs on her parents and any siblings they might have had. But immediately, the team hit a wall. They discover Joyce was born illegitimately and therefore they cannot trace her father's side of the family. As avenues are closing down on them, they are faced with the possibility that Joyce's 30 thousand pound estate might end up in the hands of the government. Will the team be able to track down an heir in time and ensure Joyce's estate stays in the family? The heir hunters also work on the case of Kenneth Routledge and his 160 thousand pound estate. As the hunt hots up an intriguing story starts to unravel. They discover how the deceased had closed himself off from the world whilst secretly working away in his cellar on ideas and inventions which he hoped would make him his fortune. But just how successful was he? And would the team manage to track down any beneficiaries to his estate?

17. Ring/Moore

February 9, 2010

Widower Jean Ring recently died in the seaside town of Seahouses in Northumberland leaving an estate worth an estimated 150,000 pounds behind her. She had enjoyed 55 years of happy marriage, but had had no children so the heir hunters are looking for family members from further afield. Without the luxury of time on their side Company Partner Neil Fraser decides to throw all his resources at solving the case in order to beat off any potential rival firms. Along the way they uncover a family of butchers and adventurers as their investigation takes them across the globe on an exciting chase. Meanwhile the office has also been looking into the case of Michael Moore who was born in London in 1948 and passed away in Croydon in July 2009. As a sufferer of Downs Syndrome Michael Moore had been well looked after by his parents during their lifetime, but once he had outlived them he was moved to The British Home for the Incurables where he later died. The trail for his blood relatives lead the heir hunters on what feels like a wild goose chase as with every breakthrough they make there seems to be an accompanying setback. Can they get to the bottom of this and return Michael's estate to his wider family or will it be a case of one up to the Treasury on this occasion?

16. Adams/Young

February 8, 2010

The team behind Fraser and Frasers' investigate the case of a well-loved man who was surrounded by friends, but had no known family. Kenneth Adams lived in a semi-detached house in Birmingham - his second home was his local. As the team set to work tracking down heirs to his estimated 110,000 pounds estate, they quickly realise they're going to have to act fast if they're to solve the case ahead of competing heir hunters. Will they pull it off in time? Every little bit of help from his friends could go a long way... Also, it's a well known fact that heir hunting can often reveal surprising family secrets, but when Fraser and Frasers began working the estimated 300k estate of Violet Young they revealed a lot more than that. Just when they thought their research was done on this case, a will appeared rendering all of their work useless. But they quickly uncovered discrepancies in the paperwork and before long the police and the team were looking at a multi-million pound crime which sent a seismic shock through the world of heir-hunting

15. Mooney/Sonntag

February 5, 2010

Margaret Mooney died in East London in July 2009, aged 88. She had dedicated her life to charity work and when she passed away she left behind her a fortune in excess of 200,000 pounds. As she didn't leave a will it is now down to Fraser and Frasers to track down any living family relatives. The investigation sets Case Manager Tony Pledger's head in a spin as the family tree grows and grows. Celtic Research uncover one of their youngest heirs to date. Olive Sonntag died in 2008 in a care home on the Isle of Wight, aged 84. She left behind an estate worth an estimated 130,000 pounds, but no will. This case sees the team of heir hunters inspired to go on a journey eventually leading them to Liverpool and Olive's great niece - a 20 year old tattoo artist.

14. Hollins/Ashby

February 4, 2010

Reclusive Peter Hollins liked to keep himself to himself. He died at home alone aged 70 years old in 2009. As he hadn't left a will, it is down to the heir hunters to track down any living blood relatives - but with no birth certificate to be found, where do they start? All eyes fall on ex-copper and travelling heir hunter David Hadley to see if he'll be able to uncover the vital information they need from his investigation on the road. Meanwhile Fraser and Frasers have also been contacted by the neighbours of a derelict house which is causing them grief. The team discover that the last resident at the address was an ex-Army major, John Ashby, who passed away in April 2007 leaving behind him an unclaimed estate worth an estimated half a million pounds. With this figure at stake, the hunt is on for beneficiaries which in turn may help the street return back to normal and give the neighbours the peace and quiet they're yearning for.

13. Smith-Kiff/Sherry

February 3, 2010

John Kiff died in Littlehampton on the South Coast of England in September 2008 leaving an estimated one hundred and fifty thousand pounds estate. Before moving to Sussex, John had lived in London where there appeared to be records of him also under the name of John Smith. Given that this is one of the most common names in Britain the heir hunters have got their work well and truly cut out for them as their research could easily see them barking up the wrong family tree. Meanwhile Celtic Research have been looking into the case of Ivy Sherry who died in April 2009 from a stroke. She spent the last few years of her life in Middlewich, at an NHS Supportive Housing Network, as she had lived for many years with a range of learning difficulties. Given that she had died without leaving a will, the heir hunters set to work trying to track down any living blood relatives

12. Palmer/Banting

February 2, 2010

Robin Hardy Palmer died aged 58 in West London. As the Frasers team battle to find heirs to his estate their frustrations mount and they start to feel like they are clutching at straws. Unable to get hold of the certificates they need they decide to play a more speculative game but will their gambles pay off or could it all be for nothing? Meanwhile Heir Hunters company, Hoopers, tackle a case unlike any other as a vicar stakes a claim to a very unusual inheritance. He believes he's entitled to be buried in a particular family grave in West London's famous Kensal Green Cemetery, but will the heir hunters be able to prove his case either way?

11. Hall/Cundall

February 1, 2010

Alan Hall died suddenly at 52. He'd always been surrounded by friends and was a popular character in his Rutland village. Can the heir hunters team at Fraser and Fraser's find anyone entitled to a share of his estate? Meanwhile, heir-hunting company Hoopers are asked to take on the case of Kathleen Cundall. She died in a nursing home aged 83 without leaving instructions for her substanstial 300,000 pounds estate. The search for her heirs reveals the life of a career woman who served in the WAAF before entering an altogether more glamorous world.

10. Porter/Hunt

January 29, 2010

Margaret Porter passed away in June 2008. A shy and reclusive woman, she had withdrawn herself from society when her wartime sweetheart and husband of 50 years had died a few years earlier. As the Fraser and Fraser team start to delve deeper into her story, they uncover both a reasonable legacy and a mystery they'll need to solve if they are to make any headway. The race is on to the crack the case before their competitors, but who will get to the finishing line first? Meanwhile Heir Hunters company, Hoopers, are stumped by the case of Claire Hunt. This love story sees the team chasing their own tails in an attempt to find any living relatives. But, with the case being worth more than 100,000 pounds, they can't afford to give up too easily. That said, it does seem to throw up more questions than it does answers

9. Murdoch/LV

January 28, 2010

Fraser and Fraser get a lead on a case worth a fortune. Glenys Murdoch died in Canterbury leaving an estate worth almost a quarter of a million pounds. As she died without leaving a will, the hunt is on for living relatives. As the team delves deeper, they start to unravel a story of murder, intrigue and war. And, we ask what happens if someone does leave a will, but not all their assets have been traced and included in that will? There are currently 15 billion pounds worth of unclaimed assets in the UK and that includes old insurance policies, dormant bank accounts and unclaimed shares. Insurance company Liverpool Victoria investigates two stories of long-forgotten policies that see families benefit after some productive detective work.

8. Climpson/Morgan

January 27, 2010

Ethel Climpson died aged 88 in East London. With the case being valued at a possible 200,000 pounds, the heir hunters face some of their toughest competition yet in the race to be the first to sign up heirs. Company Partner, Neil Fraser, decides to throw all his resources at it but will it be enough? Meanwhile, probate researchers from Celtic Research look into the case of Howell Morgan. He died aged 77 in South Wales not far from where he was born. When heir hunters come across a deceased person such as this - who was born and died in the same area - it often means that their search will be focused there, but in the case of Howell Morgan their investigation takes them to the end of the earth and back!

7. Boilard/Reminnij

January 26, 2010

Norma Grace Boilard passed away aged 79. She never married nor had any children. She lived alone in her house in Battersea and died a spinster. Although Norma left no will, she was surrounded by a close circle of friends throughout her life. But where and who were her blood relatives, and are any of them still alive? Her case takes the Fraser and Fraser team of heir hunters across the globe as they tackle a family story which begins in the Indian Raj and reveals the unusual life of the rich and famous. George Reminnij passed away in Cardiff. He was a well liked, hard-working man but also one full of mystery. His friends knew nothing about his past and as Celtic Research investigate his case they begin to understand why he may have wanted to keep this under wraps. Their journey uncovers an intriguing tale of a man who fled the Russians fearing his secret life would endanger his family. Will the heir hunters be able to unravel his mystery and find a living heir at the end of it all?

6. Hodgson/McHugh

January 25, 2010

Dorothy Hodgson died alone in Newcastle aged 86. She'd become reclusive after her beloved husband Lawrence became ill with Alzheimer's. As she left behind an estimated 170,000 pound estate, the case is attracting a lot of competition. Fraser and Fraser have to work quickly but as the family tree starts to spiral out of control, will travelling heir hunter Dave Mansell be able to keep up? Michael McHugh died in Chicago in 2000, leaving behind a 500,000 dollar legacy to his god-daughter, Rosemary. When all attempts to find her fail, Celtic Research are drafted in to help and their search leads them on a journey of discovery about an Irish family ripped apart by poverty and hardships.

5. Cashmore/Maynard

January 22, 2010

George Cashmore died in a nursing home in 2008 aged 80. At first sight his case seems pretty straightforward, but as the team move into action, his past becomes murkier and raises more questions than it answers. Just to add to the pressure, the competition also starts snapping at the heir hunter's heels and the tension mounts to locate his descendants once and for all. This task falls on travelling heir hunter Paul Matthews' shoulders as he goes on a major league heir hunt... Will he bag them all or fall at the last hurdle? Meanwhile, case manager David Milchard, aka 'Grimble', works the case of a well-loved Oxford eccentric, Raymond Maynard. The tale brims with intrigue and fear, from false names to gangsters to prostitutes; it reads like a bestselling novel. The final cherry on the cake is when they find out the estate is worth an astounding quarter of a million pounds, so there's no lack of motivation for the team at Frasers as they hunt out survivors to this lucrative estate

4. Reynolds/Darling

January 21, 2010

Charles Reynolds died aged 92 in December 2008. He never married, had no children and had worked nearly all his life as a boiler man at the local police station. He was an incredibly reclusive, independent man and a creature of habit. He never lavished himself with expensive gifts, getting his first television set at the age of 72! The team at Frasers have their work cut out as they work the case and try to track down anyone who knew Charles, let alone any living heirs to his estate. Heir Hunters' Hoopers also work on the heart-wrenching tale of Walter Darling - one of four siblings who were sent to the same orphanage in the 1940s but who grew up apart. Walter died in Blackpool in March 2008 and was well-loved by the local community. He was known for being a modest man and for his love of nature and the local wildlife. But just how did a man of such humble means and needs manage to amass a fortune of 55,000 pounds, and how would his long lost sister feel when she found out about her share of the inheritance not to mention looking back at a particularly painful part of her family history?

3. Willerton/Edwards

January 20, 2010

Gladys Willerton died a widow aged 86 in August 2008 in Leicester. She was a very active member in the Leicester Progressive Spritualist Church, which became the main focus of her life both professionally and socially. Having lost touch with her family a long time ago the heir hunters have a mountain to climb as the race is on to see who gets to any living relatives first! Gladys' existence is eventually rediscovered by a half blood family who are spurred on to research their own family tree as a result. Meanwhile, other members behind the Frasers team uncover the devastating tale behind a 250,000 pound case which sees a family ravaged by illness and death. Spurred on, they want to turn this family's luck around and stop the estate from going straight into the government's coffers, but will they manage it with so few survivors to help them piece together the essential family tree?

2. Walker/Curtis

January 19, 2010

Charlotte Walker was a much-loved character in her local village, and achieved the milestone of 101 before she passed away. She was surrounded by close family and friends and had already decided who would inherit her 150,000 pound fortune. But fate stepped in, and the heir hunters' investigation reveals a sorry tale of good intentions gone horribly wrong. When heir hunting company Hoopers looked into the case of Cyril Curtis, a reclusive bachelor who passed away in Great Yarmouth, they never dreamed they would be uncovering a family secret that had lain hidden for nearly 60 years. Their discovery brought two sisters together for the first time - but it also raised many questions the sisters are still struggling to answer.

1. Emms/Garner

January 18, 2010

Beatrice Emms died aged 78 in July 2008 in Birmingham without any obvious living blood relatives. When the heir hunters discover her estate is worth an approximate eighty thousand pounds, they decide the challenge to uncover beneficiaries is one worth rising to but as names in birth, death and marriage records refuse to tally up, they are literally left tearing their hair out. Will the heir hunters manage to crack the case before their patience cracks or will a rival firm get there first? Meanwhile, Celtic Research, have been trying in vain to solve the case of Nancy Elizabeth Garner for the last 16 years and have continually drawn a blank. It is only after a recent change in law that their researchers can finally gain access to clues which eventually lead them - via a workhouse in Wales - to beneficiaries of the 50 thousand pound fortune Nancy left behind. Along the way they also uncover an explanation for a difficult relationship which a brother and sister had always shared with their mother, but could never explain.

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