Missing heir

For the 1976 detective film, see Missing Heir.

Wills, trusts and estates

Part of the common law series
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Trusts
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Estate administration
Intestacy Testator Probate Power of appointment Simultaneous death Slayer rule Laughing heir Advancement Disclaimer of interest Inheritance tax
Related topics
Advance directive (Living will) Forced heirship Totten trust
Other common law areas
Contract Tort Property Criminal law Evidence

A missing heir is a person related to a decedent (dead person), or testator of a will, but whose residence, domicile, Post office, or other address is not known. A missing heir may be an orphan or other person under a disability, who may need a guardian or custodian of funds.

Missing heirs often come up in the context of legal actions involving wills, title to real property, or a quiet title action. A private investigator, probate research firm or forensic genealogist may be hired by the executor, trustee, or administrator to find the missing heirs.

A probate court or surrogate judge may require the service of a citation, notice of petition, summons, or subpoena to the relevant persons who may be missing persons, or may know the whereabouts of such person.

Some courts, such as Suffolk County Probate Court in Boston, actively solicit missing heirs.^[1]

Probate research companies specialize in locating missing and unknown heirs.

References

↑ Suffolk County Probate Court

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Missing heir

See also

References