FAQ

Estatesearch is an industry-leading solution for professionals carrying out due diligence in estate administration. 

This includes: 

• Law firms and solicitors  

• Will writers and will banks  

• Estate planning professionals  

• Trust administration teams  

• Court of Protection specialists 

Learn how we support firms like yours: https://www.estatesearch.co.uk/testimonials/  

We also support executors and members of the public managing an estate. 

Members of the public can order directly through our dedicated platform: https://direct.estatesearch.co.uk/. 

We support both high-volume probate teams and independent practitioners. 

A Financial Asset & Liability Search is a core part of probate due diligence. It helps identify financial connections linked to an individual, including: 

• Bank and building society accounts  

• Credit cards, loans and liabilities  

• Financial institutions  

• Potential dormant or unclaimed assets  

We contact hundreds of financial organisations on your behalf to build a comprehensive picture of an individual’s financial position. 

This helps reduce the risk of missing assets and supports a more thorough probate and estate administration process. 

We offer two levels of service, the Financial Profile Standard, and a more comprehensive Financial Profile Premium. The Premium includes everything in the Standard search, plus: 

• AML (Anti-Money Laundering) checks  

• OPG100 search (to identify LPAs/EPAs)  

• Companies House search (for directorships and potential shareholdings)  

• Property Ownership Verification 

• Search of the Estatetrace Unclaimed Assets Register 

We also recommend additional bolt-on services where applicable. These include the Digital Asset Search, and the High-Net-Worth Search. These specialist searches help identify assets and liabilities that are often overlooked during estate administration, particularly in more complex or high-value estates. 

Yes. Our Financial Asset & Liability Search is designed to identify both active financial profiles and potential dormant or unclaimed assets. 

This ensures a more complete picture of an individual’s financial position and reduces the risk of missing assets during estate administration. 

Contacting financial institutions individually can be time-consuming and may result in incomplete information. 

Estatesearch streamlines this process by: 

• Contacting hundreds of institutions simultaneously  

• Using established data partnerships  

• Providing a structured and auditable process  

This provides greater confidence in your due diligence and reduces the risk of incomplete estate administration. 

Yes. We can provide searches in a growing number of foreign jurisdictions.  

Our International Searches provide a report of enquiries made to banks, insurance agencies, investment firms, and pension funds.  

To find out more about this service please visit - https://www.estatesearch.co.uk/service/international-profile-search/ 

Estatesearch provides a full range of estate administration support services, including: 

• Will Searches (including Missing Will searches)  

• Will Bank Management 

• Trustee and Statutory Notices  

• Bankruptcy and Insolvency Searches  

• ID Verification Checks  

• Shares and Securities 

• International searches 

• Valuations 

These services are designed to support the full estate administration process from identification of assets through to distribution and compliance. Find our full list of services here: https://www.estatesearch.co.uk/services/  

We also offer specialist insurance for probate professionals through Estatesure, including cover for unoccupied properties, early distribution and missing share certificates. 

If you are looking to integrate automation software in Estate Accounts, IHT Forms, Court Forms and Correspondence, please visit our Exizent website. 

Yes. Estatesearch supports probate due diligence by carrying out structured financial searches across a wide range of institutions. 

This process helps demonstrate that reasonable steps have been taken to identify assets and liabilities, which may help protect executors and professionals in the event of future claims. 

Registering for an Estatesearch account is quick, easy and secure.  

Register here: https://www.estatesearch.co.uk/register/  

You will then receive log-in details for the Estatesearch Portal via email. 

Most services on the Estatesearch Portal require documentation and evidence to be carried out. For estate administration (bereavement cases): 

• Death Certificate or Interim Coroner’s Certificate
  AND  

• Proof of authority (Grant of Representation, Will, or signed engagement letter)  

For mental capacity cases: 

• Deputy Order or Lasting Power of Attorney
  AND (if acting on behalf of the appointed person)  

You will be assigned a specific account manager that will be there for you if you have any questions or need any help.  

We invoice accounts monthly with 30-day payment terms. Payment methods include BACS, Cheque and Direct Debit. We understand that estate funds may not always be immediately available and aim to operate flexibly where needed.  

There are no registration or subscription fees, just clear and transparent pricing. 

We understand that probate professionals are often working to tight deadlines, with pressure from beneficiaries and clients to progress estate administration as quickly as possible. 

Estatesearch is designed to support a faster, more efficient process. 

• Initial Credit & Liability Search: typically delivered within 24 hours  

• Final Asset Search report: delivered after 30 working days  

During this period, we provide real-time updates as responses are received from financial institutions. This includes copies of correspondence, reference numbers, and relevant contact details  

We also continue to monitor and process inbound responses beyond the initial reporting period, helping to ensure that any late responses or additional findings are captured. 

Our wider range of services is designed to further reduce time pressure and administrative burden throughout the estate administration process. 

If you require additional protection against risks such as early distribution, you can find out more about our insurance solutions with Estatesure. 

Our mission is to find a better way. We believe in making your experience with Estatesearch seamless and rewarding. If you are having any issues, please contact our helpdesk on [email protected] or call 0330 900 1700.  

Here are some specific troubleshooting tips for specific issues:

Trouble logging in: Reset your password  

Add/Remove users: Email the helpdesk ([email protected]) with the relevant details: Name, Email address, and Job title (for new users). 

Yes, we offer services internationally. 

For global enquiries, visit:
https://www.estatesearch.com/ 

For Canada-specific services:
https://www.estatesearch.ca/