Download our latest newsletter (Issue #2)

Worldwide Tracing of Missing People, Beneficiaries and Heirs

TracingDirect Ltd specialises in finding beneficiaries and unknown heirs, family and friends, birth parents, as well as undertaking adoption tracing. As genealogists and probate researchers, all our cases are handled with skill and efficiency, with all personal information treated sensitively and in confidence. The managing director, with over 15 years of research experience, formed the company and brought together an ever increasing team of staff and agents, with extensive experience in this field of research. Our work and services are provided on a strict code of practice, both ethically, morally, and professionally. We as a company, operate in a truthful and professional manner, and believe in a sensitive approach, with an adherence to a correct and discretionary behaviour.

Every year thousands of people die without making a Will.

TracingDirect are specialists at finding unknown missing beneficiaries to intestate estates, with many years experience in this field of research. You can feel comfortable in the knowledge that your entitlement to an estate will be dealt with professionally.

Please click below for more information.

If you are looking to find your birth parents or your old friends, then we can help you.

We know that taking the decision to find birth parents or lost friends is not one most people take lightly and can be a very emotional experience. We will do all we can to ensure your search will be as pleasant, and as positive an experience, as possible.

Please click below for more information.

PROBATE NEWS

At TracingDirect we welcome the regulation changes to governing intestate Wills.

Since February 2009, the new rules now state that if a person dies without making a Will an increase in the money paid to surviving spouses or civil partners should be applied.

Prior to the 1st of February 2009, the legacy payable to the surviving spouse or civil partner with children was £125,000. Now the surviving spouse or civil partner gets £250,000. If, however, the deceased has no children the legacy payable to the surviving spouse or civil partner goes up from £200,000 to £450,000.

As usual, if there are no available beneficiaries, everything goes to the state!

INHERITANCE TAX CONFUSES FAMILIES

With some families paying more death duty than the government actually needs, TracingDirect is backing Norwich Union’s campaign to amend confusing inheritance tax procedures. In a recent study, conducted by the insurance provider, more than 1 in 5 people had no idea of the requirements surrounding inheritance tax.

Norwich Union also found that 62 per cent of the people, at the inheritance tax threshold, have partial or no understanding of what inheritance tax actually is.

Nicholas Burton, senior marketing manager for Norwich Union, said: "Inheritance tax is not just for the super rich — many of our customers are mystified by the current system and as a result are not taking action or leaving things too late."

TRACINGDIRECT NEEDS YOU!

At TracingDirect we are actively seeking agents to help us with our regular search for missing beneficiaries.

In particular we are looking for someone with their own car, who has a go-getting attitude, and an appetite for the chase. If you are a retired police officer, teacher or professional we would like to hear from you.

Contact us by e-mail at info@tracingdirect.co.uk or call us on 0845 257 3131.

We look forward to hearing from you.

COMING TO TV SOON

Management guru Sir Gerry Robinson is to present a one-off BBC 2 documentary focusing on the importance of writing a Will.

"It shocked me when I found out how many people in this country haven’t written their will," said Sir Gerry Robinson. "If you wrote (your Will) twenty years ago, stuffed it in a drawer and forgot about it you may find that your circumstances have changed so much it no longer applies. And if you didn’t get it properly witnessed at the time, it isn’t valid anyway."

The programme, which airs later this year, aims to break the taboos around inheritance that cause many Britons to die intestate. We look forward to watching Sir Gerry.

TRACINGDIRECT INTERNATIONAL

At TracingDirect we are proud to say that we leave no stone unturned. Our commitment to this philosophy means that our search for missing beneficiaries can often take us anywhere across the globe.

In recent months a number of our successful traces have taken place outside the UK. Our investigations, in particular, have been focused on Spain, Canada and the USA.

One such case involves a brother and sister, who during the depression of the 1930s emigrated to Canada. As you may imagine, this search was loaded with a number of possibilities.

But with diligence, exhaustive research, and a certain amount of luck, our search was ultimately fruitful.

WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

TracingDirect is pleased to announce the winning schools in its family art competition.

Jamie Aherne, director of TracingDirect, was delighted with the entries received. He said: “Our mission has always been to build bridges in the community and we feel that our art competition has achieved this. We were particularly impressed with the commitment of all the schools and quality of the artwork they submitted.”

Stacey Primary in Cardiff was awarded a brand new Personal Computer, impressing the judges with its sheer number of entries. Head teacher, Steffan Wright, is thrilled to bits with the outcome of the competition. He said: “At Stacey Primary our pupils come from a number of ethnic and social backgrounds. Some come from large extended families; others have one parent, and the rest are fairly traditional. I am really proud of all the children who took part. They have done us proud!”

An XBox 36O was won by Brandon Clissold, 7, from Eveswell Primary in Newport. Jamie Aherne, who made the final decision, was particularly impressed by Brandon’s work. He said: “Brandon’s drawing is remarkable for a child of his age. We thought his picture really did capture the essence of family life, and had a style that was head and shoulders above all the other entries.”

Holly Power, 11, from Pentre Primary, RCT won a family ticket to Alton Towers. Her picture depicts her family, as well as Pixie the Cat, Fred the Cockerel, and Lucy the Duck.

To see some of the entries please click here. You could also watch our video below.

TracingDirect Family Art Competition from Hubbub Productions on Vimeo.

SEASONS GREETINGS

We would like to wish all friends of TracingDirect a Merry Christmas and properous New Year.

Please click on the image to the left.

MANY THANKS

Many thanks to all the schools that have kindly participated in our Family Art Competition. Our post bag is bursting with lots of fantastic entries. We will be announcing the winners in due course.

TRACINGDIRECT SUPPORTS NATIONAL ADOPTION WEEK

With National Adoption Week currently in full swing, the need for permanent carer families is as great as ever.

At TracingDirect we thoroughly support these aims and would encourage people to think about the children who have been waiting for months, even years for a new family.

Adoption can be stressful, frustrating and sometimes difficult. This can be particularly relevant when the children begin to ask questions about their real parents. Of course, when they contact us we always sensitively deal with these enquiries, but we are at the long end of a chain.

At TracingDirect we wholeheartedly support the endeavours of adoption charities. We feel passionately that the rewards can be plentiful and life-changing for both the adoptive parents and the children they care for.

Often children waiting for an adoptive family are generally older, have a brother or sister, or a range of emotional or physical difficulties. With over 4000 children on the books of UK adoption agencies we certainly would encourage potential adoptive parents to step forward.

For more information visit: http://www.nationaladoptionweek.org.uk/

MOVING ON UP

We are pleased to announce some changes at TracingDirect.

Firstly, we will soon be moving premises to the heart of picturesque Cowbridge Town, near Cardiff. Our new offices are situated on the High Street, with excellent access to shops and local businesses.

Jamie Aherne, director of TracingDirect, said: “We are really excited to be relocating to Cowbridge. It has always been a favourite place to visit and we believe that this move signals good things for the company.”

Secondly, TracingDirect will very soon expand its workforce.

Jamie continued: “We have achieved great success in the last few months and despite the difficult times ahead for the economy we feel the time is right to take on more staff. We are extremely committed to investing in the community and feel that our kind of business will add something unique to the local area.”

SOME MISSING PEOPLE JUST DON'T WANT TO BE FOUND

Our philosophy at TracingDirect is to offer help and support to all the missing beneficiaries we locate. We are totally aware that a ‘knock at the door’ can sometimes be a surprise or even a shock.

Like most tracing companies, we always aim to be affable and completely honest in our dealings with the public. Our reputation has been built on such trust.

Some companies though are a lot less scrupulous. For this reason we are calling for a written Code of Conduct to be established for all tracing companies. This will benefit the industry and protect the beneficiary’s inheritance claims. At TracingDirect we never pressure the beneficiary and always offer a fair percentage. Consequently the beneficiary is always pleased with the service they receive, and inherit more from the estate.

Below is a short article from the British press which shows that sometimes our industry can be very complicated. Thankfully it’s not a TracingDirect case, but we thought you’d like to read it anyway.

Recently Angelo Piroddi, a clerk living in a small bedsit, found out that he had inherited a £1million fortune. Surprisingly he dismissed the inheritance as just another problem caused by his mother and pledged to give it all away.

Mr Piroddi, 45 last wrote to his mother in 1992 after his father's death, warning her: "Don't try to find me." But despite their problems, his mother left him her £1million fortune when she died in 1998.

Mr Piroddi said: "I don't want the money. I'm going to give it away to someone else. I don't like the people who gave me that inheritance, so why would I want their money?

"My mother was always giving me problems when she was alive and now she is giving me problems when she is dead. I'm not going to be rich. I'm going to be poor as I am now."

FAMILY ARTWORK COMPETITION

TracingDirect is backing the Family and Parent Institute’s National Parents’ Week — commencing Monday 15th October — with a family and parents artwork competition in South East Wales’ schools.

Jamie Aherne, director of TracingDirect, feels that despite the credit crunch, the issues affecting families should be kept at the top of the political agenda. He said: “Many families are strong and will find it easy to get through these difficult times. Others, who are in trouble, need help. At TracingDirect we wholeheartedly support the Family and Parent Institute with all its endeavours.”

The competition will focus on the family as seen through primary age children. Pupils will be asked to design a poster exploring the significance of the family in the 21st century — with the judges focusing on the overall idea, as well technical ability.

Two additional categories will also be open to the public (for children aged 4 to 6 and 7 to 11). This artwork can be sent directly to TracingDirect.

The first prize is a family games console, the runner-up gets a family ticket to a theme park, and the winning school receives a computer.

For more information please contact:
shaun@hubbubproductions.co.uk

TRACINGDIRECT BACKS THE WRITING OF WILLS

With two thirds of the UK population not making a valid Will, TracingDirect based in the Vale of Glamorgan — a company which seeks out unknown beneficiaries — is casting aside its own personal interest and supporting the “National Make a Will Month” campaign.

Jamie Aherne, director of TracingDirect, feels that the public should be given the facts straight. He said: “The truth is that if you die without making a Will this can cause anxiety and bitterness within the family. Worse still, if you die alone it is extremely possible that your estate will end up going to the Crown. Making a Will is the only way to avoid this.”

The Treasury swallows in excess 0f £25m every year from unclaimed estates — and some of it could be yours. Specialist firms such as TracingDirect spend their time locating these beneficiaries; a very difficult process, as often they have to search through national archive records for births, deaths and marriages, dating back to the early 1800’s.

Notwithstanding the benefits to his own industry, Jamie is still passionate that the public should put pen to paper and make a Will. He said: “Often when a family member dies, with no indication of their wishes, family chaos can quite often ensue. This can be easily be avoided by putting aside some time to fill in the paperwork.”

Vince Cable, Shadow Chancellor for the Liberal Democrats, has added his support to the campaign. He said: "Making a Will is a very positive step, but one which many people find difficult to take. As a result, large numbers of people die without a Will every year, leaving problems for their families and exposing their estate to the ravages of intestacy and inheritance tax. I am delighted to see that the benefits of making a Will are being promoted during Make a Will Month."