Richard Ticehurst, a 70-year-old man who lived in a run-down house with no electricity or gas, has left a quarter of a million-pound estate to 31 relatives he seemed to have no idea existed! 

 Ticehurst was an only child with no known relatives, and he had no wife or children. Finders International was tasked with tracking down his closest relatives.  

It was later discovered that he had 31 relatives spread across five countries and three continents, one of whom, Yvonne Fraser of Australia, is set to have received a portion of Richard’s £250,000 estate. 

Danny Curran of Finders International said ‘being a beneficiary to the estate of someone you didn’t know, or barely knew of is becoming more common in the upcoming years.’  Hundreds of surprised family members are reunited with money from unexpected relatives every year.  

If you die without leaving a will, you have died intestate, and what you leave is subject to intestacy laws. If there are no surviving relatives who can inherit under intestacy rules your estate reverts to the Treasury if it is not claimed within 12 years. 

Writing a will ensures that your wishes regarding your money, possessions, and property are carried out after your death.  

In addition, writing a will has never been more important, seeing as your estate may be distributed to individuals you’ve never met or heard of. Maintain control over who inherits your estate and ensure that your loved ones are considered in the event of this unfortunate situation.