Can I have myself declared to be the ‘Next of Kin’ in Australia in order to claim money left in an old account for a deceased relative?
VIC Unclaimed Funds
- Thread starter charlotte4566
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The deceased left a will, a copy of which I recently recieved from the Victoria govt. The executor and his wife are both dead, as are the other people mentioned in the will. They were his deceased wife's relatives. The deceased had no children and he was my father's 2nd cousin.
The property is unclaimed funds in ASIC. The deceased passed away in 2004. Probate was granted in 2006. There was no will in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, but a short time ago a will in Australia came up on Ancestry.com and I senta away for a copy. The Executors were the brother-in-law now deceased) AND a lawyer in Northern Ireland. I'm wondering if the lawyer has rights to collect that unclaimed money or could I. It's been sitting there for at least 13 years.
The lawyer has also died, but the firm still exists. I suppose if I alert them to the unclaimed money they’ll just claim it?
They can't claim it - as in, make it their own property.
But it's still estate property even if undiscovered after all this time.
Which can mean, that yes, as a matter of technical law, if you claim it, you may be stealing it.
But it's still estate property even if undiscovered after all this time.
Which can mean, that yes, as a matter of technical law, if you claim it, you may be stealing it.
Thank you. I guess it will just stay there. Seems a shame, but it’s not appropriate for me to do anything about it.
I have cousins in Northern Ireland. They would have the same degree of kinship to Howard as I do. It’s only $8,000. Not a huge deal; I just thought if it’s sitting there, someone named Kenny should claim it. Thanks for your comments.
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