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When someone dies with no will or known family, their property passes to the Crown as ownerless property (or 鈥榖ona vacantia鈥�). It can be any kind of property, like buildings, money or personal possessions.

You could be entitled to a share of a deceased relative鈥檚 property (鈥榚state鈥�) if you鈥檙e a relative.

How to claim

1. Check if the estate is listed with the Crown.

2. Make sure you鈥檙e an entitled relative.

3. Make a claim on the estate.

If you鈥檙e not a relative

You can apply for a grant from the estate if you think you may be entitled to a share of a deceased person鈥檚 estate (for example if you lived together or you cared for them).

The Government Legal Department handles bona vacantia in England and Wales (except in the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster).

Adverts and claims

The Government Legal Department advertises to find entitled relatives. If you reply to an advert, you have to prove your relationship with the deceased, for example with a birth, marriage or death certificate.

Other bodies that represent the Crown

Elsewhere, bona vacantia is dealt with by:

• in the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster -
• in Scotland -
• in Northern Ireland - phone the Crown Solicitor鈥檚 Office for Northern Ireland

You need to know if you鈥檙e entitled before making a claim on an estate. The general rules are:

• if there鈥檚 no will, the person鈥檚 spouse or civil partner and then any children have first claim to the estate
• if there鈥檚 no spouse or child, anyone descended from a grandparent of the person is entitled to a share in the estate
• if you鈥檙e related by marriage you have no entitlement

Adopted people

If you鈥檙e adopted:

• you have the same rights as if you鈥檇 been born into your adoptive family
• you have no rights to an estate of your original birth family

Only the adoptive family have rights to the estate if the deceased person was adopted.

If you think you鈥檙e entitled to an estate in England and Wales (but not Cornwall or Lancashire):

1. Find the estate.

2. Make sure you鈥檙e an entitled relative.

3. Make a claim on the estate.

In the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster, Scotland or Northern Ireland

Contact the relevant body representing the Crown.

Evidence you need

You鈥檒l be asked to send a family tree showing your relationship and 2 pieces of identification:

• one showing your name
• one showing your name and address, dated within the last 3 months

You might also be asked to send birth, death or marriage certificates.

If you know someone who has died with no will or known blood relatives, you can tell one of the bodies representing the Crown about their estate.

You should only refer an estate if:

• the person didn鈥檛 leave a will
• there are no blood relatives
• the person left more funds than debt 鈥� otherwise the estate is 鈥榠nsolvent鈥�

How to refer an estate

In England and Wales (except the Duchies of Cornwall or Lancaster), you can download the forms to refer the estate.

In Scotland, Northern Ireland or the Duchies of Cornwall or Lancaster contact the relevant body representing the Crown.

You can apply for a grant from a deceased person鈥檚 estate if you could have expected to benefit from it. This could be where you:

• provided the person with free services like washing, cleaning, cooking, shopping, home repairs or care where they might otherwise have had to pay
• lived together with the person (as their partner or as a friend) but were not married
• represent a charity or other body that cared for the person at considerable expense

How to apply

In England and Wales (but not Cornwall or Lancashire) apply to the Government Legal Department.

Contact the Government Legal Department stating that you鈥檙e claiming a 鈥榙iscretionary grant鈥�, including as much supporting information as possible.

In Cornwall, Lancashire, Scotland or Northern Ireland, apply to the relevant body representing the Crown.