We are proud to announce that the BBC has released a compelling new podcast, Grave Robbers, following an in-depth investigation led by the team here at Anglia Research.
Anglia Research was closely involved in bringing this story to light, with company founder and Managing Director Peter Turvey having alerted the journalist Sue Mitchell to our growing concerns. Our researchers have played a pivotal role in uncovering the truth behind a number of troubling estate cases, many of which involve rightful heirs being overlooked.
These findings have sparked national attention, and we are pleased to see that the Government Legal Department and other legal bodies are taking these revelations seriously. Notably, the Unclaimed Estates List for England and Wales has been temporarily removed as authorities take stock of the situation, remaining offline as at 11th July 2025.
Importantly, many of the cases we investigated did not originate from the Bona Vacantia list but instead involved individuals who had close living relatives – a fact that was either overlooked or ignored.
This reinforces the value of engaging a qualified Probate Genealogist, such as Anglia Research, whenever there is uncertainty about the rightful heirs to an estate. We can provide clarity when there is doubt, ensuring that all entitled beneficiaries have been correctly identified
Media coverage like this helps raise awareness of these troubling cases; The Grave Robbers podcast sheds light on the human stories behind these cases – stories of families unknowingly denied their inheritance
For those working in probate, genealogy, or legal services, the report deserves particular attention.
Listen to the BBC Radio 4 podcast Grave Robbers: https://bit.ly/TheGraveRobbers
For further information about our work or to speak to our researchers, please contact us.
This article was submitted to be published by Anglia Research as part of their advertising agreement with Today’s Wills and Probate. The views expressed in this article are those of the submitter and not those of Today’s Wills and Probate.
