Sutton (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A Sutton entrepreneur has scooped two prestigious awards for her standout role in BBC’s ‘Heir Hunting’ series, celebrating her work in tracing lost legacies.
As reported by Your local Guardian, the CEO of Finders International, Simonne Llewellyn, received recognition at the London 2025 Probate Industry Awards.
Steph McGovern, a broadcaster, presented the prizes.
The UK Probate Research Firm of the Year award went to Finders International, the biggest probate genealogy firm in the UK.
The group also took first place in the Story of the Year category.
The BBC’s Heir Hunters television show, which chronicles tales of reuniting inheritance with long-lost family members, has featured Ms. Llewellyn’s staff on a regular basis for over ten years.
In honor of its efforts in “heir hunting,” or probate research, the firm received the event’s top honor.
This entails tracking down relatives to estates to which they frequently were unaware of their legal claim.
In order to piece together and validate family ties, the procedure entails resolving intricate family trees, searching through documents, and frequently getting in touch with friends and family.
If an estate (property or money) is left unclaimed, the work permits it to be given to next-of-kin family members instead of The Crown.
In addition to honoring the most captivating human interest narrative the industry produces, the UK Probate Industry Awards are designed to recognize distinction among top probate solicitors and heir hunters.
For businesses offering probate services to the general public, the awards honor excellence in all aspects of business operations, remarkable expansion, customer happiness, and significant social effect.
The judges said of Finders International: “Having provided compelling evidence – demonstrating expertise, commitment, helpfulness to the industry and client focus, they also provide a diverse range of services not traditionally offered by companies in this space.”
The story of brothers Alfred and Margaret Ardener won the second prize for Ms. Llewellyn’s company, Story of the Year.
After 70 years apart, the two octogenarians were reunited thanks to the work of Finders International’s heir hunters, who were able to solve the intestacy of their late sister Mabel, who left a modest inheritance.
Then, after a touching day spent with her younger brother Alfred, Margaret passed away, bringing the two siblings back together after being separated for decades.
As a result of studying to pass on a tiny fortune, this narrative was commended for bringing a family back together.
Antoine Djikpa, chair of the IAPPR (International Association of Professional Probate Researchers), commented:
“With the increase in intestacies (individuals who die without a will), not only in the UK but globally, and increased strain on local authorities left to pick up the pieces when individuals pass away, it’s never been a more important time than now to recognise the crucial work of our legal and probate professionals.”
What inspired the Sutton businesswoman to pursue a career in heir hunting?
The fulfilling human component of the work—helping people find their family history and reconciling bereaved families with lost heirs—was a major factor in Simonne Llewellyn’s decision to pursue a career in heir hunting as a Sutton businesswoman.
Finding heirs in time for funerals or to secure inheritances gives one a profound sense of purpose and fulfillment, and the task entails delicate interactions with family members who are frequently grieving.
For many in the field, the most inspiring aspects are the chance to positively impact people’s lives and the emotional ties that are formed.
Additionally, heir hunting appeals to people who want to solve complicated estate matters and unearth hidden family histories by fusing investigative research with genealogy and legal procedures.