Estates of people who died intestate and without known kin are known as “Bona Vacantia”, and fall to the Crown if unclaimed for 30 years.
If you believe you may be entitled to assets owed deceased family members go to: Unclaimed Estate Search.
There are various other kinds of Unclaimed Funds in Court, also called Estates in Chancery or Money in Chancery.
These include: monies paid in under civil litigation and other proceedings dealt with in County Courts and the High Court where no transaction has taken place for a period of 10 years (5 years before 1st December, 2000); awards of the Family Court; compensation from the Civil Injuries Compensation Board; compensation under Compulsory Purchase Acts, in cases where either the ownership of the property is unknown or the owner refuses to accept it; legacies, where missing heirs cannot be found; money lodged for dissenting shareholders; and the net proceeds of sale from mortgage foreclosures when the mortgagor cannot be traced.
The Court Funds Office also receives lodgments of money under County Court suitors’ actions (since 1983) and Queen’s Bench Division actions. If no transaction takes place for a specified period after the lodgment is made, the accounts become eligible for transfer to the dormant funds.
The Dormant Funds Index for all of the unclaimed balance cases can be searched at the public counter of the Court Funds Office. This service is free, with only a small fee for printouts.
You may also apply in writing to the Chancery section of the Court Funds Office, and they will perform a search on your behalf. Write: Chancery/Family Section, Court Funds Office, 22 Kingsway, London WC2B 6LE.
In order to perform the search the Court Funds Office requires the following information:
- The title of the Court proceedings.
- The name of the Court.
- The name(s) of the person(s) who lodged the money into Court.
- For whose benefit the money was lodged.
- Relevant dates.
- The assumed link between you and any of the above.
Note: Court Fund Office records are confidential. They will not be disclosed to anyone who cannot produce evidence of beneficial interest. If a fund in the Index looks relevant to the claimant, the claimant must show evidence that they are entitled to all or part of the fund. The claimant must prove this to the satisfaction of the Court that dealt with the case (the Court of Origin).
The Court Funds Division cannot pay out any money from the fund until the Court of Origin makes an Order for payment. The main sources of evidence are: Orders of the High Court and County Courts, wills, probates and letters of administration; birth, marriage and death registers; and census returns.
Companies Court (including winding-up proceedings) |
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| Companies Court, Thomas More Building, Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London WC2A 2LL |
For England and Wales |
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| The Treasury Solicitor (Bona Vacantia) Queen Anne's Chambers 28 Broadway London SW1H 9JS |
If the deceased person lived in Cornwall |
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| The Solicitor to the Duchy of Cornwall 10 Buckingham Gate London SW1E 6LA |
If the deceased person lived in Lancashire |
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| The Solicitor to the Duchy of Lancaster Lancaster Place Strand London WC2E 7ED |
Scotland: Funds in Court - Enquiries concerning Scottish estates which have fallen to the Crown in default of heirs |
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| The Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer Crown Office 25 Chambers Street Edinburgh EH1 1LA. |
Scotland: Enquiries concerning funds lodged in the Court of Session, and other unclaimed sums resulting from liquidations, bankruptcies, judicial factories, etc., are held (for seven years from the date of consignation) |
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| The Accountant of Court Parliament House 2 Parliament Square Edinburgh EH1 1RF |
Scotland: Other enquiries |
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| The Keeper of the Records of Scotland National Archives of Scotland HM General Register House Edinburgh EH1 3YY |
Northern Ireland: Funds in Court - For funds lodged in Court in Northern Ireland since 1921 |
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| The Accountant General Royal Courts of Justice Chichester Street Belfast |
Ireland: For funds under the control of the Supreme Court and High Court of Justice |
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| The Accountant General The High Court of Justice Dublin |
For additional information and assistance | |
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| Court Funds Office - UB Section 22 Kingsway London WC2B 6LE Tel: 0845 223 8500 Fax: 020 7947 7967 E-mail: Search the database Obtain a claims form Request a search in writing to the Chancery Section | |