Probate Research

Although it is not my primary field as a genealogist, I regularly handle probate research cases: the search in Spain for heirs of persons who have died elsewhere, and – to a lesser extent - commissions that require me to document the deaths and testamentary arrangements of foreign nationals who resided in Spain, for the distribution of estates in their home countries. If such matters arise, my acceptance of them will be decided on a case-by-case basis, depending principally on whether it is even feasible to proceed. This requires that we weigh the amount of information the trustees have about the birthplace and family of the deceased against the lack of any central and accessible indexing of births, marriages and deaths in Spanish civil records.

In all but a few cases I have been successful in locating the prospective heirs, for executors and trustees in a variety of jurisdictions. The exceptions have been either when the deceased had a very common surname and had left no clear information about his or her place of origin in Spain, or when local authorities in Spain have, citing privacy laws, refused to put me in touch with prospective heirs or pass my details on to them. Yes, it does happen - giving me someone's details, in order for me to tell them they will inherit money, would violate their privacy! Thankfully, not all local officials interpret the law this way; some have been very helpful. But at the start of a case, we never know which sort we're going to get.

Please contact me to discuss the amount of work involved and the fee schedule for a given project. I will no longer accept any such cases on a contingency fee.