Callum Emmerson
2024 proved to be another successful and interesting year for Blanchards. With the growth of the team and our appearance on Channel 4s Key To A Fortune, we have reached new levels of prosperity. As always we are not without our more interesting cases which still surprise us after all the years in the industry. Although the names have been changed, these cases are real.
Faith in humanity
This case was simple on the surface but had a highly unusual and generous outcome. Peter Faithwell passed away in Berkshire in 2022. He was a hermit by nature, having no close family or friends. Blanchards picked up his case from the Bona Vacantia list and begun our search to locate his heirs. Thankfully he did have some first cousins who all signed up to inherit from his estate.
When we visited the property there was no family possessions or photos. Mr Faithwell truly had the home of a recluse with no one close. Despite this, it was a family home. Mr Faithwell had inherited the property from his Father, and after his sister died, he was the last of his family to live in the property.
When we contacted the cousins they were all under the assumption that as they were all first cousins of Mr Faithwell, they would all be entitled to the same amount. However, the laws of intestacy do not work this way all the time. Due to the cousins being split between three family branches they would all inherit different amounts. This is because one branch had one child. The second had two, and the third had three. So the branch with more children (the beneficiaries) had to split their branches amount three ways, where the first branch didn’t need to split it at all as they had no siblings.
However, due to the closeknit bond of these cousins, they all decided to split the inheritance equally between all six of them. This meant three of the beneficiaries had a significant reduction and the other three had a significant increase from their initial shares. This highlights how in some instances money does not get in the way of family and a familial bond comes first.
TV star
Another interesting case we have picked up this year was the case of Tara. At first it looked like a simple and small estate. However, we discovered that Tara was a rough sleeper who in fact had been the focus of BBC Radio 4 Tv Programme, Tara and George, from 2018. Although there may not be much of an estate for Tara’s family, it is still nice to handle her estate and give the family closure in regards to her assets.
International property owner
Susan Steep was a case referred from the public. However, not the British public, but instead someone in Bulgaria. Their neighbour, Susan Steep, was a British citizen who recently passed away leaving behind her home in Bulgaria. This was co owned with her partner Peter who predeceased her. Due to Bulgarian laws differing from UK laws, the estate does not automatically pass to Susan after Peters death. Instead, the property will be split between both families heirs, meaning we then had to work on Peters estate. The case does not end there, Susan also owned property in New Zealand and also Ireland. Blanchards are still working on this case contacting legal representatives from each country to assist in the property sale.
Conclusion
The year 2024 has certainly been one to remember for Blanchards. From cases that restored our faith in humanity to those that took us across borders and onto television screens, this year’s work has reminded us just how unique every estate can be. Each case, no matter how simple or complex, carries a story — stories of generosity, closure, and unexpected discoveries that keep our work both rewarding and fascinating. We look forward to another year of solving mysteries, reuniting families with what’s rightfully theirs, and continuing to do what we do best. Here’s to an even more prosperous and fulfilling 2025! For more, please see our other blogs and follow us on LinkedIn.