How to Locate Assets of Deceased
Private investigators are often need to perform asset tracing services. In many cases, the detectives are called in to locate these assets after the death of the asset owner.
There are many individuals who are very secretive about the properties they own, their bank accounts and other assets in their possession. When such individuals pass on, asset tracing can be a difficult job for their families. Hiring a private investigator can help to locate these assets.
Why Would You Need A Private Investigator To Locate Assets Of The Deceased?
There are two types of people who are usually seeking asset tracing services from private investigators. These are:
- Individuals with a claim to the inheritance
- People named as executors or administrators of estates
If you have a claim to the inheritance of the deceased, the reasons for hiring a private investigator to locate any hidden assets are obvious. A private investigator is your best chance of getting your hands on these assets as quickly as possible.
For the executor or administrator of an estate, locating assets is important because the correct value of assets is needed to start the process of property division. This means, you'll need a private investigator to find out about any assets and debts the deceased may have had. Hiring a private investigator to locate all the assets will also help to ensure the tax on the inheritance is paid in time to avoid fines. Because there's always a time constraint when dividing property, hiring a private investigator to trace assets should be done as quickly as possible. Private investigators already have the means to start an asset trace. This means they can get you fast results.
How Are Assets Located By Private Investigators?
If there are assets that need to be traced, there are a number of ways that a private investigator can go about locating them. The first step is for the private investigator to go through the deceased's paperwork (personal and official) to find any traces of assets you're not aware of.
When going through the deceased's personal paperwork the private investigator will be looking for references to:
- Property they might have owned
- Cash they might have borrowed or lent
- Payments they were receiving on a regular basis
- A mortgage that was being paid on property they weren't living in etc.
Additionally, you'll need a thorough private investigator who can conduct a professional search through assets that are considered lost or unclaimed. This can be anything from a dormant bank account to shares. If the deceased lived or visited another country frequently, you may also want a private investigator who can search for assets in these other countries.
How Can A Private Investigator Help You To Locate Assets?
Unless you know what to look for, there are many assets that you may fail to find. Private investigators with experience in asset tracing know what to look for. Thanks to their experience, private investigators know the factors that may point to assets hidden away or assets that may have been forgotten. Private detectives can also laise with private detectives in other countries to trace assets that might be there.