Recent Blog Posts
What to Do if You Suspect You or a Client Are a Victim of Estate Fraud
Estates are meant to be administered in accordance with the law in cases where the wishes of the deceased are not expressed in last will. When someone in a position to commits acts of fraud against the estate by trying to obtain estate assets without proper entitlement as an intestate heir, for personal gain… Read More »
How Forensic Genealogy Works
If you are in probate attempting to administer an estate, especially if the deceased party died intestate, it’s vital to have a comprehensive picture of the decedent’s family tree. You need to know whether the deceased has any surviving heirs, their relationship to the deceased, and how to track them down. Even if there… Read More »
How to Make a Claim For an Unclaimed Estate
When someone dies without a will, the state’s intestacy laws dictate what happens to their estate. If no relatives can be found, the estate will sit unclaimed for a number of years until finally the state is entitled to take possession. In the meantime, if a previously undiscovered heir to the deceased shows up,… Read More »
Who is Entitled to an Unclaimed Estate?
In an ideal setting, when someone passes away, their property will pass to heirs and beneficiaries in accordance with a last will and testament, trust, or other testamentary instrument. Unfortunately, many people do not execute a will prior to their passing. State law, which is in many jurisdictions referred to as a Descent and… Read More »
Things to Do if You Are Contacted by an Heir Hunter
When a person passes away, the administrator of the estate will attempt to track down heirs and named beneficiaries in the will to notify them of their rights. Sometimes, they have difficulty locating putative heirs and will hire professional forensic genealogists to search for missing heirs. Forensic genealogists differ from heir hunters who are… Read More »
Von Langen Discovers Heir Hunter Deliberately Cut Out Heirs Who Refused to Pay
We’ve said it before and we’ve demonstrated it in our practice: If you want accurate heir information, you need to retain a proper forensic genealogist, not an unscrupulous heir hunter. A recent case handled by Von Langen, LLC serves to highlight this point. An estate administrator was presented with claims filed by an attorney… Read More »
How a Forensic Genealogist Can Help as an Expert Witness in an Estate Case
Forensic genealogy is an extremely useful tool when trying to identify the appropriate heirs to an estate. In addition to locating living heirs on the front end, research and testimony from an expert forensic genealogist can provide the evidentiary support necessary for a court to rule appropriately in an estate dispute. Below, we explore… Read More »
How is Forensic Genealogy Different From Regular Genealogy?
Many people by now have heard of direct-to-consumer “genealogical services” companies such as Ancestry.com and 23andme. These companies offer a service, to be sure, but it is worlds apart from the services offered by qualified forensic genealogists. Below, we explain the purpose of a forensic genealogist and how their work differs from standard genealogy…. Read More »
Why Do I Need a Forensic Genealogist?
We will be the first to admit that most people do not know what a forensic genealogist does, or why they are necessary. While it is a lesser-known specialty, forensic genealogy serves a vital service in ensuring the effective administration of probate and the proper distribution of estates. Below, we discuss the important functions… Read More »
What is Intestate Succession? How Can a Forensic Genealogist Help?
Ideally, before a person passes away, they have the time and opportunity to get all of their affairs in order. They will execute a will, trust, or other means of ensuring their entire estate is distributed to their heirs in accordance with their wishes. Unfortunately, not everyone is afforded the opportunity to get all… Read More »