About Search InternationalHeir ServicesAttorney & Trust ServicesInsurance ServicesEmployment OpportunitiesContact Search International`

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are you?
Search International is a probate research and forensic genealogy company headquartered in Kansas City. We find missing and unknown heirs and help them recover entitlements they don’t know about. We’ve been in business for over 25 years, and during that time have helped thousands of people recover millions of dollars in entitlements. [back]

What is this all about?
Someone has died and our review of the probate court records where the estate is being handled tells us that you may stand to inherit. If you haven’t already been contacted by someone, it is likely because the court does not know who you are or where to find you. There are three possible situations that could exist: 1) the deceased person’s will names you, but lists your whereabouts as unknown and the court can’t find you; 2) the deceased person’s will names relatives of yours that have died leaving you next in line; or, 3) the deceased person died without leaving a will (“intestate”) and the court has not been able to determine who should inherit. [back]

Where is this is coming from? Who died?
Unfortunately, if we reveal that information before we have signed agreements from you and any other heirs we’ve identified and located, some people might go directly to the asset holder to claim the entitlement and we would lose our entire investment in the case. As soon as we have received the signed agreements, we will reveal full details of the entitlement and let you know what to expect going forward. [back]

Where did you get my information? How do you know I’m the right person?
Usually, by the time you first hear from us, we have already done extensive research to identify you as a rightful heir. This research is very specialized and involves searching numerous public information databases, obtaining vital records such as birth, death and marriage certificates, tracking genealogy, and even doing field research in some cases. We would not make the investment in time, money and resources to find you if we didn’t feel it would be profitable for both you and us. [back]

Why can’t I just find it myself? Why do I need you?
First of all, we are experts at what we do. With all the information available now on the Internet and other places, you would most likely already know about this if it were easy to find. We invest a large percentage of our budget every year on research and genealogy in situations where it is highly unlikely the rightful heir would ever be aware of the assets without us.

Secondly, we also have vast experience in the probate process and are very efficient at dealing with the attorneys and courts. There are very few snags that can occur that we haven’t dealt with before. For someone who hasn’t been through the process before, it can be very frustrating, confusing, and costly in terms of attorney’s fees. Remember, once you’ve signed an agreement with us, we hire and direct the attorney and pay all the legal fees. [back]

How much do I have coming? Is it going to be worth it?
While we can generally give you some idea how much we think you might receive, we really can’t give you exact amounts until the money is actually distributed. Occasionally a last minute creditor’s claim may appear, or there may be unpaid past tax liabilities, or some other situation may arise that will drain a significant amount of assets from the estate. For that reason, we almost always wait until the checks are issued to tell you exactly how much is coming.

You’ll have to be the judge of how much money would make it worthwhile to sign our agreement. Keep in mind, however, that we’ve already fronted all the expenses to find you and we’ll pay all the attorney’s fees. We certainly wouldn’t be involved if we didn’t think it was worth the investment we’re making. [back]

When will I get the money?
The probate process usually takes anywhere from 12–18 months; sometimes a lot longer if there are complications. Although we hire very good attorneys to help us collect your entitlement, they can only make the process go as fast as the courts allow it to. We do our best to keep you informed throughout the process. The best advice we can give is to be patient and trust that we’re doing everything we can. After all, we don’t get paid until you get paid! [back]

Why can’t you give me more information so I know this is for real?
Quite simply, if we tell you too much before you sign the agreement, you wouldn’t need us. The agreement protects our investment in finding this entitlement for you and makes it possible for us to stay in business and keep finding money for people who don’t know they are entitled to it.

If you have any doubts about us, please check with the Better Business Bureau, or with any of the references we will gladly provide at your request. [back]

This sounds too good to be true. What’s the catch?
There is no catch. We don’t ask for any money from you, ever! If we are unsuccessful in securing any assets for you, you owe us nothing. That’s why we’re so confident you are the right person, and that you have an entitlement coming to you – we bear all the financial risk, and we don’t get paid until you get paid. [back]

So what do I do next?
Just sign our agreement and send it back to us. We’ll take it from there and keep you posted on how things are going. [back]