Reclaiming lost family fortunes

Amanda Mezzullo
BBC Scotland news reporter

Sheila Duffy tracks down relatives with a right to claim inheritance

Every year, the state coffers in Scotland are boosted by about £2m.

This cash is not tax or some other form of income - but money left by people who have died without leaving a will.

One woman has made it her mission to trace the rightful heirs to this treasure chest of unclaimed family fortunes, and stop estates falling to the Crown.

Genealogist Sheila Duffy set up her own company a decade ago to track down relatives with a right to claim the inheritance.

Hundreds have benefited financially as a result of her work - and one or two family mysteries have been solved along the way.

Being a detective

At her base in Glasgow, Ms Duffy is often contacted by lawyers looking for relatives - but she also trawls for news of estates having fallen to the Crown, which may spark her latest investigation.

"It really is like being a detective," she said. "You start off with the deceased and, before long, you uncover so much information."

"Linda La Plante stories are like vicarage tea parties compared to the sex, drugs, rock and roll, bigamy, illegitimacy, bankruptcy, incest and all the things we dig up."

Ms Duffy spotted one advert which led her to James McMahon in Cardonald.

James McMahon lost contact with his brother, Edward

He lost contact with his brother, Edward, more than 35 years ago.

He had served in the Merchant Navy and James had for a long time wondered what became of him.

"It was very disconcerting as I just didn't know where he was," said Mr McMahon.

"I had an inkling he might have gone to New Zealand, because he often said he would like to settle in Wellington."

Family mysteries

He was told his brother died more than 10 years ago at the age of 65, spending his final years at the Seaman's Mission in London.

Mr McMahon was the sole heir - but it was finding out what had happened to his younger sibling that really mattered.

"It brought a closure to a mystery that had perplexed me for a long time," he said.

"What was satisfying was being able to leave a memorial to Edward by donating some of the money for furniture for the institution when he spent the last years of his life."

For some, news of a relative's death can lead to new discoveries.

Mr McMahon said the discovery brought closure

Sylvia Thom, from Knightswood, Glasgow, contacted Ms Duffy for help in investigating her family history after she came across details of estates having fallen to the Crown, one of which had belonged to her cousin.

Her claim resulted in dozens of family members receiving a share of cash but the investigation also gave her food for thought.

"It made me think about how important it is to leave a will," added Ms Thom. "I would hate for anybody that I know to lose all that cash.

"When you're just working class you don't think you have any money, but it doesn't matter what you've got, you should decide where it goes, not the government."

Over the years, Ms Duffy has recovered hundreds of thousands of pounds, some of which otherwise could be destined for the Scottish Consolidated Fund, for use by the government.

For some, the cash is a welcome boost. For others, her work can finally unravel family riddles that have spanned decades.