Where there’s NO will, there’s still a way to hunt down heirs
Researching family history can lead to an interesting career.
‘The best bit about my job is the thrill of the chase,’ says amy Littlechild, a senior research manager with Finders international, the probate genealogy company that often features on television’s heir hunters.
Probate genealogists track down beneficiaries when someone dies intestate (without a will) and with no known relatives, usually racing against other heir hunters to find the beneficiaries first.
amy, who leads a team of three researchers, says: ‘Using information on the government’s unclaimed estates site, we research family histories to trace beneficiaries, and contact them, usually by phone.
‘You have to work fast because you are competing with other companies, but you also have to be accurate and careful how you explain things to potential heirs over the phone, otherwise they think you are a nuisance caller.
‘it’s a pleasure telling people that they have an unexpected inheritance, but it’s not always about inheritances. We also trace lost relatives — i once reunited two brothers 60 years after they were separated at birth.’
Daniel curran, managing director of Finders international, says: ‘We look for graduates in subjects such as english, law or history, who can carry out research but also communicate sensitively. Family history research experience can help, but this is not a hobby — you need a commercial edge.’
The company also looks for retired police officers willing to visit potential heirs at very short notice.
no formal qualifications are required for a probate genealogist career, but history, library or archive qualifications help. The society Of genealogists ( sog.org) offers career advice. The University of strathclyde has an online masters course in genealogy studies. Make sure you research employers carefully: look for certificates from the international standards Organisation, which means they are externally audited, or membership of the association of Professional genealogists, which has a code of conduct.
ask about pay rates. some jobs are commission based and many genealogists are self-employed.