The Empty Homes Network is encouraging empty homes officers, and other departments of local authorities to be aware of potentially fraudulent circumstances when referring estates to the Bona Vacantia Division, as a result of a recent BBC investigation and accompanying Radio 4 programme, The Grave Robbers.
The investigation and radio programme have thrown a spotlight on a growing and deeply concerning issue of the fraudulent acquisition of estates belonging to individuals who die intestate and apparently without family, who are subsequently targeted by opportunists given the public availability of information purporting to such cases.
One such instance involves the estate of Christine Haverson, a woman who passed away in the London Borough of Merton. With no known next of kin at the time of her death, her case was referred to the Bona Vacantia Division (BVD) of the Government Legal Department, which handles unclaimed estates in favour of the Crown.
However, what followed was a disturbing example of probate fraud. A Hungarian national, Tamas Szvercsok, allegedly forged a will naming himself as both executor and sole beneficiary, disinheriting Ms Haverson’s actual family. The fake will was submitted to probate in an attempt to steal her entire estate, including a house in Wimbledon and all her financial assets.
The estate had been publicly advertised by BVD, as is standard practice, and genuine relatives were subsequently located, highlighting how rare it is for there to be truly no next of kin. Fraser & Fraser, noted that almost all referrals to BVD ultimately lead to the identification of rightful heirs. Nick Beetham of Fraser & Fraser commented:
“This case sadly reflects a pattern we’ve seen before. We’ve reported similar instances to the authorities, but they were not acted upon. In other cases, we’ve successfully litigated to overturn fake wills and secure rightful inheritance for the deceased’s family. Without such action, families would be defrauded of their legal entitlements, and HMRC would lose out on inheritance tax revenue.”
The case raises pressing questions about the vulnerability of the probate system to fraudulent claims and the importance of thorough checks when dealing with Bona Vacantia referrals. It also reinforces the value of specialist firms who, working with local authorities, can ensure estates are rightfully returned to family members and not lost to criminal opportunism.
You can listen to the full story via the BBC here:
