Finders International have won the prestigious ‘Best Probate Research Firm’ category at the 2024 ‘Probies’ – or Probate Industry Awards.
Now in its sixth year, the Probies were presented by broadcaster Kate Garraway who awarded Finders International and its founder, celebrity heir hunter Danny Curran, the accolade in London on 18th April. Curran was presented the award from Garraway flanked by the firm’s deputy managing director, Simonne Llewellyn and senior manager, James Empson.
Judges commented on the firm’s impressive growth and invaluable relationships with local authorities around the UK.
Garraway recounted numerous relatable experiences to the probate industry as she is currently involved in one following the highly publicised passing of her husband.
Now called the Probate Industry Awards, the initiative has grown to include not only heir hunters and probate solicitors, but the myriad of service providers including will writers in addition to property and deputyship services – who support the industry that is designed to bring fairness and closure to families when individuals pass away.
Eléonore Delabre, art historian and head of the Provenance Research Department at French probate research firm, ADD Associes won the Best Story of Human Interest category for her incredible work in the restitution of more than 20 invaluable pieces from the Armand Dorville collection, which was confiscated by the Nazis in 1942. They include the works of Pissarro, Vuillard and Renoir.
The Probies also saw the launch of Probate.Auction, the UK’s first exclusive probate property auction platform, an initiative launched by the founders of YouSpotProperty.com – which has brought back into use more empty and derelict homes around the UK than any other organisation. Geoffrey Odds, chair of global heir hunting trade body, the International Association of Professional Probate Researchers (IAPPR), commented:
“The Probies has evolved to becoming a formidable force not only in the UK but globally because of the amount of cross border cooperation that this industry needs to thrive, from both legal, probate research but also the multitude of service providers who support their operations.”
Other key wins at the Probies included Irwin Mitchell LLP securing the title of Best Probate Law Firm of the year.
Full list of winners: https://www.probateindustryawards.com/2024-award-winners/
