The assignment came with one important limitation: if any beneficiary was confirmed to be deceased, HeirSearch was instructed not to conduct any searches for that individual’s descendants.
What appeared to be a straightforward beneficiary location quickly became a challenging investigation requiring persistence, strategic research, and the use of specialized heir-search resources.
The Information We Were Given
At the outset of the assignment, our client provided the following information:
- Daniela Smith (daughter of the grantor) was the mother of Nicola, Sharon, and Susan.
- Daniela’s date of death.
- A copy of email correspondence previously sent by the attorney to Sharon Crown at a known email address.
- Public records reports for Sharon Crown containing possible contact information and known associates.
- Daniela’s obituary identifying:
- Robert Smith as her father;
- the grantor’s spouse as her mother;
- Nicola, Sharon, and Susan as her daughters; and
- Ryan Smith as her brother.
This information provided a valuable starting point—but it was only the beginning.
Following Every Lead
Using the information provided, we conducted extensive searches across numerous commercial and public records databases.
Our investigation located a record for Daniela Smith that confirmed Nicola, Sharon, and Susan as her likely relatives, allowing us to begin pursuing each beneficiary individually.
Sharon
Multiple database searches identified three potential records for Sharon Crown.
Our investigators:
- Called a possible telephone number associated with her.
- Reached an automated voicemail that did not identify the subscriber.
- Left a detailed voicemail requesting a return call.
- Searched county tax assessor records without locating any relevant property ownership.
- Sent a couriered letter to her last known address.
Despite these efforts, no response was received.
Susan
At the same time, we requested a copy of Susan’s birth certificate from the appropriate County Clerk’s Office to help confirm her identity.
Additional database research located three possible records for Susan.
Our investigation included:
- Calling a possible telephone number where the personalized voicemail greeting identified the owners as the Owens; however, the mailbox was full and unable to accept messages.
- Calling a second potential telephone number, where an unidentified man answered but abruptly ended the call after we inquired about Susan.
- Searching county tax assessor records, which revealed property ownership by Susan Owen and Charles Owen at a known address.
- Sending a couriered letter to that address.
Once again, despite exhausting these avenues, no response was received.
Nicola
While pursuing every available lead for Sharon and Susan, our investigators simultaneously searched for Nicola.
Commercial and public records searches identified two possible records.
Our efforts included:
- Calling a potential telephone number.
- Reaching a personalized voicemail greeting confirming the subscriber was Nicola.
- Leaving a detailed voicemail requesting a return call.
- Sending a couriered letter to her last reported address.
- Conducting extensive social media searches, which produced no identifiable profiles.
- Searching the state’s Residents Directory, where both residential and mailing addresses were located.
We were preparing to initiate contact at these newly discovered addresses when our persistence finally paid off.
The Breakthrough
After numerous unsuccessful attempts through multiple investigative channels, Nicola returned the voicemail message we had previously left.
We promptly followed up and successfully interviewed her by telephone.
During our conversation, Nicola confirmed:
- Robert Smith was her grandfather.
- She remained in contact with both of her sisters, who lived nearby.
- She was willing to serve as the primary point of contact for her sisters.
- The address we had located was her current and correct residence.
Nicola requested our client’s contact information so she could reach the trustee’s attorney directly.
Shortly thereafter, our client called to let us know that Nicola had made contact and that they now had everything they needed.
Their response said it all:
“This went very quickly! So pleased.”
The Result
Although numerous leads initially proved unsuccessful, our investigators continued methodically pursuing every available avenue until the right connection was made.
This case serves as a textbook example of how persistence, specialized investigative expertise, and access to the right research tools enable us to overcome difficult beneficiary location challenges efficiently and professionally.
When others might have concluded the trail had gone cold, we continued digging—and ultimately delivered the connection our client needed.
Need Help Locating Missing Heirs or Beneficiaries?
If you are an executor, administrator, trustee, fiduciary, bank or trust officer, or estate attorney who needs assistance locating missing heirs or beneficiaries, we invite you to contact HeirSearch.
We offer no-cost, no-obligation consultations, even if you’re not yet ready to begin a search.
Reach out today and let HeirSearch help you fulfill your fiduciary responsibilities with confidence.
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Disclaimer: Although accurate in scope, all identifying information such as names, dates and locations have been changed in order to protect the privacy of individuals.
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