Four Months and Counting: Where is the Bona Vacantia List?

It has now been over four months since the Government Legal Department (GLD) removed the Unclaimed Estates list – better known as the Bona Vacantia list. Yet the silence continues, leaving legal professionals and families alike in the dark about what comes next.

Although cases can still be referred to the Bona Vacantia Division, the public list of estates has remained offline since 7^th July 2025. Its removal followed the release of the BBC’s The Grave Robbers podcast, which exposed troubling evidence of probate fraud.

Anglia Research was proud to contribute extensive intelligence to the investigation, with the first three episodes based exclusively on cases that we provided. The podcast series highlighted how organised criminal groups had sought to exploit weaknesses in the system with apparent ease.

The Cost of Silence

The GLD was correct to take concerns seriously however in doing so has inadvertently created public distrust and uncertainty within the industry. Whilst of course transparency and integrity must be at the heart of any process that deals with the estates of the deceased, the absence of a public list has created unintended consequences.

The Bona Vacantia List has been an essential tool to connect families with their history for decades. Without access to this information, unclaimed estates remain just that – unclaimed. And rightful heirs may never receive the inheritance to which they are entitled.

Probate genealogy firms, solicitors, and local authorities have all had to adapt. Legitimate probate researchers face barriers to helping start the process of administering these estates, and the wider industry is left operating without one of its most important reference points.

Every unclaimed estate represents not just an entry on a list, but a family story left unresolved. The probate world can act as a bridge between the past and the present; however, the longer this vacuum persists, the greater the risk of mistrust, misinformation, and missed opportunities for rightful heirs.

It is also worth remembering that not all of the cases featured on the podcast originated from the Bona Vacantia list, suggesting that the issue is much wider.

As it stands, the probate sector cannot function effectively in an information void. The uncertainty is breeding confusion, and the lack of communication risks undermining confidence in the system itself.

A Way Forward

The removal of the Bona Vacantia list was a pause for reflection, but it cannot become a permanent silence.

We believe there is a viable path ahead. The GLD has the opportunity to work with the industry to design a system that balances transparency with security. Whether that means reinstating the list with stronger safeguards, creating a new secure platform, or introducing phased access, what matters most is clarity.

What is needed now is clear direction and communication from the GLD. For the sake of families, professionals, and the integrity of the probate system, we urge the GLD to announce its plans.