What is Unclaimed estates (bona vacantia)?

When someone dies with no will or known family, their estate passes to the Crown. Relatives may be entitled to a share. Check whether the estate is listed on GOV.UK, check you're an entitled relative, then make a claim.

Money of someone who died (UK)

If someone died with no will or known family, check GOV.UK's unclaimed estates list, since relatives may be entitled to a share. Executors can also search Gretel for their lost accounts.

Checked 28 September 2026 against each official service

Where to look

Unclaimed estates (bona vacantia)

When someone dies with no will or known family, their estate passes to the Crown. Relatives may be entitled to a share.

How: Check whether the estate is listed on GOV.UK, check you're an entitled relative, then make a claim.

Go to gov.uk

Checked 28 September 2026

Gretel (for someone who died)

Search for lost accounts and policies of someone who has died, if you have legal authority such as being the executor.

How: Add them as a third party in your free Gretel account.

Go to gretel.co.uk

Checked 28 September 2026

Try the free services first

The main UK tracing services are free: My Lost Account, the Pension Tracing Service, HMRC's tools and Gretel. Some paid services exist, so try the free ones first. Never pay an upfront fee or give card details to "release" money.

Quick answers

How do I find money left by someone who died in the UK?: If someone died with no will or known family, check GOV.UK's unclaimed estates list, since relatives may be entitled to a share. Executors can also search Gretel for their lost accounts.
What is Unclaimed estates (bona vacantia)?: When someone dies with no will or known family, their estate passes to the Crown. Relatives may be entitled to a share. Check whether the estate is listed on GOV.UK, check you're an entitled relative, then make a claim.
What is Gretel (for someone who died)?: Search for lost accounts and policies of someone who has died, if you have legal authority such as being the executor. Add them as a third party in your free Gretel account.

Sources

Ask Find My Money yourself

Type what you are looking for in the UK and get the free official tracing service. Open Find My Money, free, no sign-up.

In Claude or any app that takes MCP connectors, add https://goodturn-mcp.pages.dev/findmymoney/mcp and ask: “How do I find money left by someone who died in the UK?”

More UK guides

In the US? See Money from a relative who died.