This is a crucial but often overlooked area in which genealogical research plays a key role. Our work can prove to be an important part of the puzzle, providing invaluable insights.

We regularly assist deputies across the country with:

• Conducting specialist research for Statutory Will applications
• Locating family members and long-lost connections
• Carrying out financial asset searches
• Verifying family trees

Statutory Will Research

Providing research for a Statutory Will is probably what we are best known for in the Court of Protection world. This research requires meticulous evidence and supporting documentation, all whilst being entirely discreet.

We help by providing:

• P’s full family tree, with complete names and dates of birth
• The full names and addresses of existing or prospective beneficiaries, including those who may inherit under intestacy rules

What makes this work especially sensitive is the need for discretion. Research must often be conducted in “stealth mode” – quietly, without alerting the individuals being identified. Our team works behind the scenes to confirm and document relationships without initiating contact, protecting both privacy and integrity.

Reconnecting Families

There are many reasons families lose contact: estrangement, migration, fractured relationships, or sheer passage of time. In Court of Protection cases, re-establishing these connections isn’t just about background, it can be profoundly meaningful.

In one memorable case, we were instructed to locate the estranged daughter of a client whose health was rapidly declining. We located her 250 miles away, passing on the address to the deputy. This gave the opportunity for a final family reconciliation, just in time. Quick and accurate research made all the difference.

Financial Asset Searches

Perhaps the most underutilised tool available to Court of Protection professionals are Financial Asset Searches. In many cases, from the outset there is only partial or outdated information about a client’s finances.

Through our partnership with Estatesearch, we offer comprehensive asset searches via our dedicated online portal. These searches can reveal savings, investments, and other holdings that might otherwise go unnoticed – offering deputies a fuller picture of their client’s circumstances.

Verifying Family Trees

In deputyship cases, understanding exactly who belongs in a family tree – and who doesn’t – is crucial. When P is unable to provide reliable information, a genealogist becomes an essential part of the legal process.

We are often asked to verify or reconstruct a family tree from scratch. This is good practice not only for clarity during the deputyship but also for what comes afterwards. Relying solely on anecdotal family testimony can create problems down the line, particularly if disputes arise.

Partnering with Professionals

We are proud to work alongside Court of Protection professionals throughout the year and across the country. From servicing individual deputyship cases to attending industry events like the Professional Deputies Forum Annual Conference, where we are a long-standing corporate member, we are committed to supporting those who safeguard the interests of vulnerable individuals.

If you are a professional deputy or solicitor working in this field and would like to explore how genealogical research can assist your caseload, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us or view our dedicated Court of Protection web page.