Estate and Property Fraud
What is heir hunting and is it legitimate?
Short answer
Heir hunters (also called heir finders or heir locators) contact people claiming they are entitled to an inheritance — for a fee, often 30–50% of the inheritance. In California, heir locator fees are limited by law to 3% of the estate's gross…
What this usually means
Heir hunters (also called heir finders or heir locators) contact people claiming they are entitled to an inheritance — for a fee, often 30–50% of the inheritance. In California, heir locator fees are limited by law to 3% of the estate's gross value if the contract is signed after the decedent's death. If someone contacts you about an inheritance you didn't know about, verify the estate through the probate court directly before signing anything.
What to do next
- Start the PathAfter checklist for situation-aware first steps.
- Find California county help for coroner contacts, vital records, cost tools, and paperwork.
- Open the First 72 Hours Call Log before making calls.
- Open the Documents to Find Checklist when you are ready for paperwork.