Our 20-plus full-time researchers have direct access to public records in The National Archive – including the General Register, censuses and UK electoral rolls – and other current and historic listings.

We also maintain our own carefully developed, comprehensive in-house archives and specialist library.

We cover the UK and Ireland with a network of locally based agents and research teams.

For international cases, we work closely with our agents in North America, Australia, India, New Zealand, South Africa and throughout Europe.

We may have agreed with the Administrators of the estate (usually a solicitor) that they pay our fees.

Or we may have been instructed to agree a fee with any beneficiaries we trace. In that case we will not receive this pre-agreed fee until your claim has been proved and you receive your share of the estate.

Other firms may charge a research fee, whether or not you actually receive any money. But with Hoopers, if you receive no inheritance, there is no fee.