Specialist probate genealogy & beneficiary tracing services for solicitors and private client professionals.

Specialist probate research you can rely on

We are a UK-based specialist probate, genealogy and tracing practice, providing rigorous research to support estate administration. We work with solicitors, Executors and Trustees to identify missing beneficiaries, verify family trees and secure the documentary evidence needed to progress estates with confidence, even where matters are complex or cross-border.

Here to help you with...

01

Missing Beneficiaries

Whether it’s a testate or intestate estate you’re administering, missing or unknown beneficiaries can present risks and cause delays when progressing estates.

Intestacy & Family Trees

Intestate estates present unique challenges. Dealing with estates without any clear idea of the Deceased’s wishes means reverting to the often-misunderstood rules of intestacy.

Administrator Searches

Where next of kin are entirely unknown, estates can be left on the shelf without clear means to progress. We trace entitled relatives who can act as administrator.

Deputyship & Court of Protection

Where an individual loses capacity, Courts often require specific research to establish the family makeup, whether for Statutory Will applications or wider Guardianship matters.

Document Searches

Missing documents stop Grant applications. Civil registration records, Decree Absolute searches, Nil Rate Band documentation and overseas records.

Complex & Cross-Border Estates

A prime focus of our work is complex and cross-border estates, where international research, unfamiliar jurisdictions or fragmentary records present additional risk for practitioners. We support matters involving overseas beneficiaries, multi-jurisdictional intestacy, and general research in over 120 jurisdictions.

Professional Standards

We operate to clear professional and regulatory standards. We are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as a data controller and hold professional indemnity insurance appropriate to specialist probate and estate research work. Our research is conducted to the highest insurable standard and all personal data is handled in accordance with our strict privacy and security policies.

Get in Touch

Many Trust and estate matters only require early clarification to move forward - whether that is confirming entitlement, understanding the scope of potential research, or assessing risk before costs are incurred. We are happy to have an initial, informal discussion to understand the circumstances of a matter and advise on whether specialist research is likely to be required, the likely scope and timescales involved and how research can be proportionately targeted to the needs of the estate. Where appropriate, we can provide a clear written scope and estimate before any work is undertaken.

Email: enquiries@rafaeladvisory.com
Telephone: 0333 772 4565
Office: Newminster House, 27–29 Baldwin Street, Bristol BS1 1LT

Initial discussions are informal and without obligation.