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<p>The Bona Vacantia Division (BVD) of the Government Legal Department (GLD) deals
with the estates of people domiciled in England & Wales who appear to have died
without leaving a valid will or relatives entitled to share in their estates in priority
to the Crown. Estates which potentially fall to be dealt with as bona vacantia may
be referred to BVD by a variety of routes, for example, banks, other financial institutions,
solicitors or members of the public.</p><p> </p><p>There is no statutory obligation
to refer estates to BVD but guidance on the referral process and the circumstances
in which a referral will be accepted are published on BVD’s website (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/bona-vacantia"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/bona-vacantia</a>). It
is for local authorities to determine whether an estate should be referred to BVD.</p><p>
</p><p>In 2017-2018, 2768 estates were referred to BVD of which 909 were referred
by local authorities. In 2018-2019, 1971 estates were referred to BVD of which 575
were referred by local authorities.</p><p>In 2019-2020, 2336 estates were referred
to BVD of which 561 were referred by local authorities</p><p> </p><p>GLD has no responsibility
for overseeing local authorities or their compliance with guidance issued by GLD about
the handling of estates. Such information – including whether an estate has been referred
to the Bona Vacantia Division of GLD, or whether the local authority has instructed
an heir hunter – will be held by the particular local authority concerned.</p>
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