Sponsored by Fraser & Fraser
Fraser and Fraser Genealogists and International Probate Researchers have been tracing heirs for over 50 years. Their business extends to many international services, including obtaining Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates; finding missing Wills; International Bankruptcy Searches; and Asset Search and Recovery. The work often involves conducting research in places that have had changing political landscapes with records kept during very differing events in history – here, we look at one of those occasions.
CASE STUDY – SOVIET RELATIONS
The facts
An attorney was dealing with the estate of Adrian Donaldson, who had died intestate. Adrian had family roots in the former Soviet Union and the attorney was in touch with most of Adrian’s entitled family, but - because some heirs were unknown - was not certain that she was able to distribute the estate correctly.
The problem
The attorney was facing a big question mark over the whereabouts of some of Adrian’s paternal cousins – please could someone help to find them?
The solution
Fraser and Fraser reconstructed Adrian’s paternal family tree to identify all his surviving paternal cousins. Adrian’s father had fled from present-day Belarus during World War 2 and so they had to consult records in that country to show the true position. They then went on to trace the surviving beneficiaries to their current addresses. Fraser and Fraser reported to their attorney client with a comprehensive family tree, clearly showing the relationships between Adrian and the paternal cousins that had been located. The attorney client was able to distribute the estate correctly.
Read more about Fraser & Fraser HERE.
Fraser and Fraser deal with cases just like these all the time. They will always provide a free-of-charge research assessment that enables attorneys to ensure they are meeting their clients’ needs in the most efficient way. If you have any outstanding cases that are proving difficult to close, it’s worth consulting them to see if they can help you.
