How does the Public Guardian and Trustee find the heirs of the estates they administer?
The Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia makes extensive efforts to find heirs when it administers an estate. Sometimes the next-of -kin can be identified by reviewing the deceased’s personal papers. Sometimes they are identified by others, such as the deceased’s caregivers, associates or friends. In these cases, it is usually a fairly simple matter of determining which of the next-of-kin are entitled by law to inherit. We then make contact and receive proof of their identity and their relationship to the deceased. In many cases, however, it is very difficult to identify and locate next-of-kin. The Public Guardian and Trustee will exhaust normal channels in seeking to determine the whereabouts of next-of-kin, and may retain professional genealogists to trace the deceased’s family tree. These experts use a variety of techniques including searching birth, marriage and death notices, other records, as well as speaking to persons who may have information as to the next-of-kin in
Related Questions
- One of the heirs (or beneficiaries) is a mentally incapable adult. Does the Public Guardian and Trustee get involved?
- What is the purpose of the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustees (OPGT) guardianship investigation service?
- How does the Public Guardian and Trustee find the heirs of the estates they administer?
