Probate for sale

[Excalibur]

Hi,
Sorry if this is in the wrong place, this is my first post on LegalBeagles.

You know when people die and leave no will, and their stuff (eg. their house, their car etc.) become property of the state (if no family members step forward to claim it, or lose in court)? Where does it go?
For instance, if I wanted to buy it, where would be the best place to go? My local courtroom? My local probate judge? A local probate law firm? An auction house? Where?

I'm asking because I'd like to purchase the house of my wife's great-great-great uncle (or something like that) where she used to spend her summers as a child. I know I'll probably need to contact a lawyer to do this, but could someone please point me in the right direction?

Thanks!

[echat11]

Hi Excalibur

Here's some info - https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/fa...-of-intestacy/

[ostell]

But is your wife not a relative?

[Excalibur]

She is, but apparently it's too distant of a biological relation to claim on it (even though they were extremely close to the point where he was a surrogate father to her - he never had any children of his own by the way)

[des8]

If the estate is not claimed it is taken by the Crown as Bona Vacantia
A list of such estates can be found here.https://www.gov.uk/government/organi.../bona-vacantia
The site includes contact details for enquiries about particular estates