The notary handling an estate is legally obligated to identify all the deceased’s heirs in order to distribute their assets according to their wishes and current legislation. However, this task can prove difficult due to various factors, including a lack of human and material resources dedicated to this research.
To overcome these challenges, the notary can call upon a probate genealogist. This professional, specializing in genealogical research, has the skills and tools necessary to trace the family tree of a deceased person and identify all their legal heirs.
By working closely with the notary, the probate genealogist helps ensure that the estate is managed transparently and in accordance with the law.
Verifying the inheritance distribution and the absence of forced heirs: this is the scenario where doubt remains about the number and identity of the heirs. The settlement of the estate is contingent upon the clear identification of all heirs.
To search for all potential heirs of a deceased person and establish their respective qualifications. This mission is akin to the role of a detective, which is the most well-known. The firm deploys all its human and material resources to find them.
Representing heirs during the estate settlement process ensures optimal protection of their interests during the liquidation of assets and the settlement of debts. This legal aspect is handled by our highly qualified advisors, who hold a notary’s diploma, guaranteeing in-depth expertise.
The researchers’ mission is to establish the distribution of inheritances with certainty: they identify and locate the heirs. Often trained as historians or archivists, they possess a complete mastery of the various available archival sources and follow a rigorous methodology to ensure the accuracy of the inheritance distribution.
Our team’s regional directors or managers act as agents for the identified heirs, representing them with dedication during the estate settlement process. As qualified notaries and experts in estate asset liquidation, they strive to best protect the heirs’ interests. Working closely with the notary handling the estate, they position themselves as readily available and responsive partners, ensuring optimal support throughout the entire process.
In addition to a dedicated life insurance contract management and estate settlement service, an in-house legal department comprised of notaries and lawyers supports our teams to ensure the security and responsiveness of our actions. We also have a real estate asset management service and a dormant account management service.
Legal mechanism for the self-regulation of inheritance funds implemented byThe Guénifey Genealogical Firm since 2018.
The funds raised by the genealogist are entrusted to the trustee, the sole temporary owner.
The heirs will have the assurance of being able to recover their funds safely.
The trust creates a separate estate, distinct from that of the genealogist, thus protecting the trust’s beneficiaries from any legal action arising from class=”wixui-rich-text__text”>of the creditors, the trustee, or the genealogist.
A probate genealogist is a professional who specializes in researching and locating the heirs of a deceased person. Their work involves tracing the deceased person's family tree to identify all potential beneficiaries of their estate, whether they are close relatives or more distant ones.
When a person dies without leaving a will or clearly designating the beneficiaries of their estate, the notary calls upon a probate genealogist who then takes action. The genealogist uses a variety of resources, including civil registry records and public archives, to locate the legal heirs.
Hiring a probate genealogist can be crucial. It ensures that a deceased person's assets are distributed fairly and in accordance with the law, even when family relationships are complex or difficult to trace.
We are committed to providing you with clear and accessible information about the role of probate genealogists. We understand the importance of protecting your interests and those of your loved ones, and we are here to support you every step of the way.
Founded in 2001, our company, the Guénifey Genealogical Firm, has established itself in just two decades as a leading expert in probate genealogy. Our expertise lies in verifying inheritance rights, meticulously searching for potential heirs of the deceased, and effectively representing identified heirs during the estate settlement process, rigorously and precisely protecting their interests.
“Since 1972, with surprising speed, we have seen the fabric of our civil society unravel: knots are breaking, threads are no longer securely interwoven, the stitches are coming undone. Suddenly, fewer and fewer marriages, more and more cohabitations, divorces, single-parent households, illegitimate children, and solitary individuals. The upheaval is unprecedented.” Evelyne Sullerot, “For Better and For Less,” Fayard, 1984
Nowadays, with the increasing number of divorces, the complexity of blended families, the growing mobility of individuals, variations in surnames within the same lineage, and the increase in life expectancy, the task of identifying the heirs of a deceased person or the owners of real estate has become considerably more complex.
The notary handling an estate is nevertheless legally obligated to identify all the deceased’s heirs in order to distribute their assets according to their wishes and current legislation. However, this task can prove difficult due to various factors, including a lack of human and material resources dedicated to this search.
To overcome these challenges, the notary can call upon a probate genealogist. This professional, specializing in genealogical research, has the skills and tools necessary to trace the family tree of a deceased person and identify all their legal heirs. By working closely with the notary, The probate genealogist helps to ensure that the estate is managed transparently and in accordance with the law.
