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What to Look For When Hiring an Heir Search and Genealogy Firm

What to Look For When Hiring an Heir Search and Genealogy Firm

by | Jan 24, 2022 | Heir Search

What to Look For When Hiring an Heir Search and Genealogy Firm

Whether you are an attorney or administrator seeking assistance in tracking down an heir, or you are simply someone who has recently been notified that you may be entitled to unclaimed assets, how can you be certain that the firm before you possesses the skill and integrity to warrant your trust?

In recent years, an increasing number of heir search companies have popped up advertising their services. However, the fully-rounded toolkit required to complete comprehensive heir searches and genealogy investigations is not something that can be built overnight. Here, we will delve into the indicators that set a reputable firm apart from the rest. With these points in mind, you will be able to choose a collaborator that will provide heir search assistance upon which you can rely.

A Proven and Public Track-Record

If the task of identifying and locating heirs was always a simple one, then the world would not see the scale of unclaimed assets that it does today. Staggeringly, tens of billions of unclaimed assets sit in limbo because those initially assigned to identifying their rightful owners were unable to see their role through to completion.

This may indicate that a lack of initial resources drew the search to a premature close, or it may simply indicate that those responsible for completing the task have come up against substantial hurdles! These are the moments within which an heir search investigator might step in—but, as you can no doubt imagine, that means that an extensive level of experience and understanding will be required in order to achieve success where others have not.

Pursuing a successful claim against assets that are currently adrift means building a clear and unquestionable picture through information gathering and documentation. An heir search investigator will work alongside a genealogy specialist who can research and form a full family tree, so that no heir is left unaccounted for—or they may possess the skills to perform both tasks, depending on the magnitude of the investigation.

The firm you choose should hold state licensure that will enable them to dive into the verified databases used by law enforcement and government agencies to uncover the information that will aid in the completion of that picture. Your partnership with a heir search investigator should also serve as a direct connection to any third-party specialists that your unique case may require. Finally, the credentials of the firm of your choosing should extend far beyond their own website. Look for reviews and testimonials, a wider online presence and, crucially, an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

The Capacity to Scale Investigations as Necessary

An heir search can, at times, become more complex that it at first appeared. Beyond identifying those to whom assets may be due, an heir search investigator’s role may extend to carrying out field work on a national or even international scale. It may also require liaising with a broad range of legal entities and authorities.

Of course, heir search assistance should always be enacted with efficiency in mind, but there is value in knowing that your firm of choice is not only ready and able to scale if you require it, but also highly experienced in doing so. Consider factors such as the scale of resources at your chosen firm’s fingertips, their capacity to dispatch investigators, and to provide multilingual support staff where necessary.

A Complete Understanding of Legal Aspects

The act of making a successful claim upon any asset is fundamentally a legal one. Knowing that you or your client are a rightful heir is not enough—proof is required. As such, a key aspect of any heir search and genealogy firm’s spectrum of talents must be carrying out due-diligence when it comes to providing every necessary piece of documentation.

Going further, not only should your chosen collaborator be ready to collate and present all information in a format that suits court proceedings or the filing of a claim with an asset holding entity, but they should also be adept at providing witness testimony in court, should the need arise. The better your heir search investigator understands the specific requirements that the presented case must meet, they better able they will be to ensure a just reward for you or your client.

A Transparent and Integral Approach to Communication

From the moment your relationship begins with any heir search investigator, you as their client should perfectly know the lay of the land. This begins with transparency in regard to the costs associated with proving heirship, and no upfront fees for core services rendered.

Reputable firms will work on a contingency basis, absorbing costs as the case progresses, and only receiving the pre-agreed fee upon successful recovery of the asset or successful identification of all heirs sought. Depending on the nature of the investigation, costs may be charged at a flat rate, an hourly rate, or on a percentage basis—whichever may be the case, you should be able to enjoy the confidence of knowing where you stand from day one.

The heir search assistance you require may simply come in the form of geneology research and records searches, or it may span into the realms of expert witness testimony or far-flung field investigations. Whether a single investigator or an entire team are working busily on your behalf, updates should be forthcoming at every step of the journey.

Heir Search and Genealogy Investigations from Lauth’s Return Assets Division

Drawing upon decades of investigative experience, the skilled operatives here within the Return Assets Division of Lauth Investigations place due-diligence and integrity and the forefront of everything we do. We work tirelessly to restore assets to their rightful owners, providing peace of mind for heirs, attorneys, and administrators alike as they navigate the successful dissemination of estates, trust and guardianships. Learn more about our Heir Search Services, or contact our team today.

What Does a Claim Researcher Do?

What Does a Claim Researcher Do?

by | Mar 3, 2017 | Articles

Lauth Investigations International’s Return Assets Division is a company focused on recovering your assets in a expeditious and professional manner. Our claims researchers are well trained and highly skilled to identify these assets and return it to it’s rightful owner.

According to a CNN report form 2013, there’s more than $58 billion in unclaimed cash and benefits. The report says, “That’s roughly $186 for every U.S. resident. The assets come from a variety of sources, including abandoned bank accounts and stock holdings, unclaimed life insurance payouts and forgotten pension benefits.”

At Lauth Investigations International we strive to help families across the country. As a family run business we understand the hardships families face every day in America. Our goal is to make the process of recovering your assets as quick and easy as possible. Here’s just one of many testimonials from our satisfied clients:

“Sincerely, thanks for everything. If you ever need a reference or a testimonial, let me know. Your perseverance really kept us going,” wrote Linda B. of Denver, CO. “My daughter is a single mom with a full time job and going to night school for her teacher’s certificate. I can’t tell you how much this meant to her to get this cushion money. We even took the kids to the circus last weekend on the “found” money…So, like I said, if you need a reference for someone who is skeptical (and there are so many scams out there), let me know. Thanks again, you did a terrific job.”

Part of what sets Lauth Investigations International’s Return Assets Division apart is the personal care we put into every case we handle. Claim researchers like Maria Moreland aren’t doing this job just to earn a paycheck. We are personally invested in helping families across the country.

“I left a career after 25 years that I was good at, but was burned out and bored with my everyday tasks,” Maria said when asked how she became a claims researcher. “Every day is a new adventure. The best part is I assist individuals and families in obtaining assets that are rightfully theirs and most of the time they had no idea these assets existed.”

Our Claims researchers are excellent at identifying assets people have no idea are even out there. Maybe you never collected your last paycheck from a job or it’s possible you had a deposit with a utility company that you forgot was coming before you moved. No matter how your asset was displaced, we will work with you to build a case and get your property returned to you.

After we identify your assets, we get to work building a case to prove it’s yours. The nature of the asset dictates what evidence needs to be presented to claim it. If it’s a forgotten deposit then we’ll likely need proof of your previous address. Sometimes claims require a little more elbow grease, but claim researchers like Maria are ready to heed the call.

It’s possible you have a relative you don’t know about who’s inheritance you’re entitled to. These cases revolve around proving you are related to the deceased. This is one of the more difficult claims to prove, but one Maria specializes in.

“Sometimes it’s difficult to find family members,” Maria says. “But that’s par for the course when conducting genealogy investigations.”

One example of a successful genealogy investigation is the case of Coleen W. of Martinsville, IN. Coleen and her husband had been receiving dividends’s from his deceased mother’s estate when Coleen’s husband tragically passed away.

“Six years ago, my husband passed away and I was still receiving dividends from his deceased mother’s estate, which were being sent to our address,” Coleen said. “I sent them back marked return to sender. I contacted the sender and said these dividends were not in my name and nothing could be done.”

Since the the checks from the dividends were in Coleen’s husband’s name she couldn’t cash them. This money was rightfully Coleen’s, but as happens in matters like this, clerical errors prevented her from being able to claim the funds. Fortunately our claim researchers happened across the funds and contacted Coleen to get them back to her.

“And then, six years later a case came to me from Barbara Day with Lauth Investigations and she guided me through all the paperwork that finally resulted in a happy ending. Thank you Barbara and thank you Lauth Investigations,” Coleen said.

Lauth Investigations International Return Assets Division has a long history of helping people recover what’s theirs. If you believe you have unclaimed assets out there then don’t hesitate to contact us today. We will help you just like we’ve helped so many others.

States Governments and Unclaimed Property

States Governments and Unclaimed Property

by | Jun 28, 2016 | Articles

A Brief Overview of How Assets and Property Become ‘Unclaimed’

Property becomes unclaimed when a financial institution or company loses contact with the owner of the200248562-001 assets for a period greater than one year, known as the dormancy period. Unclaimed property can be savings accounts, stocks, traveler’s checks, insurance payments, life insurance policies, or contents of safe deposit boxes to name a few. After a period of time specified by state law, holding companies have to turn over any unclaimed property to the state. The state will then attempt to locate the owner of the property and assets. The state can use these confiscated funds for government use while they attempt to locate the owner. When accounts or property are deemed abandoned, they are then converted into cash and taken by the state. In most states heirs can always reclaim their property, even after decades have gone by. However, States have different laws regarding unclaimed property. Many states do not pay interest or account for investment gains when they takes ownership of assets and, therefore, heirs lose out on those potential earnings.

Unclaimed property and lost assets can range in value from a hundred dollars to half a million dollars. Currently, states in the United States hold an estimated $42 billion in unclaimed property; this is an increase from $32.8 billion in 2010.

 

Case 1: Delaware.

LII - Photo Delaware SignIn the fiscal year 2013, 16 percent of Delaware’s total general fund revenue came from unclaimed property, making it the state’s third largest revenue source. During a Supreme Court hearing on a California unclaimed property law, two justices stated that Delaware and several other states have not been working hard enough to inform citizens of their unclaimed property. The Council On State Taxation (COST) rated U.S. states on their unclaimed property laws. The COST report gave Delaware a score of D-, placing Delaware among the lowest ranked states.

The score is based on several key parts of a state’s property laws, such as:

  • Whether business-to-business transactions are subject to escheat
  • Whether state unclaimed property statutes provide an independent administrative appeals process for holders
  • Whether the state imposes excessive penalties in the unclaimed property field

 

Case 2: California.

The state of California has about $8 billion in unclaimed property. California has become more aggressive in its confiscation of unclaimed property from holding companies, prompting COST to give California a D rating. The state has shortened the dormancy period from five to seven years down to only three years. At the end of February, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear another case challenging California’s Unclaimed Property Law, solidifying the dormancy period of only three years and allowing the state to conduct meager searches of owners of unclaimed property.

The U.S. Supreme Court has set precedent against the constitutionality of short dormancy periods in the case Cunnius v. Reading School District. The Supreme Court recognized that short dormancy periods could violate the due process clause. In other words, the state cannot “deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law”.

 

Trends in State Unclaimed Property Laws

The Assistant General Consul for the Investment Company Institute, Tami Salmon stated, “The states, in a grab for money, are changing the rules of the game”. The Assistant General Consul also stated, “we’re seeing a trend among states to shorten the dormancy period before deeming accounts to be abandoned.” Moreover, many states argue that it is extremely difficult for them to track down the owner of unclaimed property due to their lack of resources. However, critics refer to states’ ability to track down citizens who have failed to pay taxes as evidence that the state chooses not to devote its resources to returning unclaimed property when it is not in its financial interest. According to tax analysts Hollis L. Hyans and Amy F. Nogid, owners are often unaware that their property has been seized by the state due to the increasingly short dormancy periods.

The state is required by law to make unclaimed property public once a year. Most states will do only what is

Source | Palawcayman.com

required by law, so that much of the unclaimed property continues to go unclaimed. However, there are other resources available to track down lost assets, such as hiring a private investigator, visit websites such as missingmoney.com or unclaimed.org or visit the treasury website of the state you currently reside in or previously resided in. In 2011, only $2.25 billion in unclaimed property was returned to the rightful heir. Currently, there is over $40 billion in unclaimed property in the custody of states, some of which may belong to you.

Author – Tiffany Walker, Lauth Investigations. 

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