Whatever form it takes, it can affect the progress of an estate or trust matter. It delays the administration and distribution of funds, complicates the required notice, and leaves you, the estate and trust professional, without a clear record of the reasonable search efforts undertaken to identify or locate the relevant heirs or beneficiaries to satisfy the courts.
Resolving these questions requires a search process that is clearly scoped, properly authorized, and supported with court-ready reporting. With HeirSearch, that process begins with a no-cost, no-obligation quote.
The Initial Conversation
You do not need to have every record or family detail in hand before contacting us. When you reach out to our team, we will ask you to describe your capacity in the matter, which search service you need (estate, trust, notice, or property), what is currently known about the missing or unknown heir(s), and the purpose of the search. You may also be asked about relevant jurisdictions, deadlines, and required documentation.
An account manager reviews the information and may follow up with additional questions before preparing a written quote. Submitting a request does not authorize HeirSearch to begin research. Work starts only after you review and approve the quote.
Defining and Authorizing the Search
Once the account manager understands the known facts, the intended outcome, and the documentation required, HeirSearch prepares a written quote based on the proposed scope of the search.
Our reasonable fees are quoted in advance and are never based on a percentage of the estate, trust, or inheritance.
You review and approve the quote before research begins. We will never initiate a search without your explicit consent. If additional work becomes necessary, HeirSearch explains what has changed and obtains your approval before proceeding.
This approach gives you, the estate and trust professional, greater oversight of the engagement and helps you manage fiduciary risk throughout the search.
Assigning the Researcher and Beginning the Search
Once the scope has been approved, the matter is assigned to a forensic genealogical researcher who leads the search. Our researchers work collaboratively, drawing on the expertise of the entire HeirSearch team.
The researcher confirms the search objective, the family lines involved, the reporting requirements, the relevant jurisdictions, the anticipated timeline, and any known obstacles.
You may be asked to provide available estate or trust documents, birth or death certificates, prior correspondence, family information, or last-known contact details. You do not need to conduct genealogical research before contacting HeirSearch. The documents and information already available provide a starting point, while the researcher develops the appropriate search strategy.
Researching and Verifying the Findings
Depending on the matter, the researcher may draw on public, commercial, and in-house databases; vital and probate records; property and legal records; library and archival sources; and international records when the matter spans multiple jurisdictions. HeirSearch has completed searches across North America and in more than 65 countries.
In some matters, the research may also include DNA kinship verification or third-party document verification. HeirSearch analyzes the information provided before research begins, then tests and confirms it as new evidence emerges.
The objective is not simply to surface a possible match. It is to identify, locate, prove, and report all lawful heirs or beneficiaries relevant to the estate or trust.
Records may be incomplete, inconsistent, sealed, or difficult to obtain. Timelines, therefore, depend on the family structure, the jurisdictions involved, the availability of records, and the required documentation.
Communication Throughout the Search
You should not have to wait for the final report to understand where the search stands.
Through your preferred communication method, whether by email or phone, HeirSearch provides regular progress summaries outlining the research completed, findings to date, and anticipated next steps. You are also notified promptly if a significant discovery or delay affects the search.
You may provide new information at any point during the process. A newly discovered document, address, or family detail may help refine the research strategy.
Your researcher and account manager remain direct, informed points of contact throughout the matter.
Receiving the Final Report
The search concludes with a written report detailing the research conducted, the findings, and the supporting documentation. Our goal is not to simply give you a name on a page. It is to provide clear, verifiable findings that support probate.
Depending on the matter, the final materials may include:
- Vital or legal records
- Source documentation
- A customized family tree with names and dates
- Exhibit numbers or report references
- Affidavits or declarations of heirship
The final report is clear, well organized, and suitable for court submission. HeirSearch researchers are also prepared to testify when necessary.
We Find Missing Heirs A Better WayTM
Even when an heir search is complex, the engagement should remain clearly scoped, authorized, and communicated.
HeirSearch has a 97% success rate in locating missing heirs and beneficiaries. To protect your fiduciary obligations, we maintain corporate insurance coverage for errors and omissions and general liability.
If you are facing a missing or unknown heir in an estate, trust, notice, or property matter, request a no-cost, no-obligation quote. An account manager will review the details, follow up with any additional questions, and prepare a quote based on the search requirements.
Phone: +1 (800)-663-2255
Or Contact Us Today
This report is for informational purposes only and is intended only as a reference. HeirSearch does not endorse or recommend any of the products or services offered in the third-party articles or content contained within. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or effectiveness of the same and will not assume any liability related to the same. Additionally, nothing contained herein may be construed as legal advice. All offers are void where prohibited by law. Copyright © 2026 International Genealogical Search Inc. All rights reserved.
