Why Verifying Family Trees is Critical

Why Verifying Family Trees is Critical Probate and Court of Protection Work

Avoid costly probate and Court of Protection delays with professional family tree verification.

Free consultation available this month. Protect your estates and clients today.

When managing intestacy, probate, or Court of Protection cases, relying on a client-provided “family tree” might seem straightforward. However, assuming it is correct can create costly delays, disputes, and liability risks.

At Harrisons Genealogy Solutions, we help Private Client and Court of Protection teams verify family trees, ensuring relationships are legally and evidence-backed, preventing errors before they occur.

The Step-Child Oversight

A solicitor received a family tree listing three children. Acting on this, they began distributing assets. Months later, a previously unlisted step-child came forward claiming inheritance rights.

Consequences:

Estate distribution had to be paused and partially reversed.
Additional legal fees: £4,500 to correct distribution and update court filings.
Court of Protection approvals delayed by 6 weeks.

Lesson: Professional verification at the outset would have identified the step-child and avoided extra costs and delays.

Adoption and Name Changes

In another case, a family tree listed two adult children with the same surname. In reality, one child had been adopted and changed their name. The solicitor began estate distribution based on incorrect assumptions.

Consequences:

Insurance policies tied to estate beneficiaries were issued incorrectly.
The estate incurred £3,200 in administrative and legal costs to reclaim misallocated funds.
Risk of insurance disputes was significant.

Lesson: Genealogy verification prevents errors that can impact both legal and insurance responsibilities.

Costs to Solicitors and Departments

Issue Estimated Cost Impact

Incorrect beneficiary £2,500–£5,000 Reversals, court filings, admin time

Insurance misalignment £1,500–£4,000 Delayed coverage, potential disputes

Executor or client disputes £3,000–£6,000 Case delays, reputational risk

HMRC / tax errors £1,000–£3,000 Late filings, fines, interest

Even one unverified relationship can have cascading consequences.

Other Consequences of Unverified Family Trees

Delayed Distribution: Beneficiaries may not receive assets promptly, creating family tension.
Insurance Complications: Incorrect next-of-kin details can invalidate coverage or complicate claims.
Professional Liability: Mismanaged estates can expose solicitors to negligence claims.
Court Intervention: Probate or COP delays increase costs and complexity.

How Professional Genealogy Mitigates Risk

Professional genealogy services verify relationships using official records — birth, death, marriage, adoption, and census data. This ensures:

Executors and solicitors have reliable next-of-kin evidence
Risk of disputes or estate misallocation is minimised
Insurance policies and legal filings are accurate and defensible

Benefits:
✔ Reduces delays and disputes
✔ Protects estates and insurance policies
✔ Saves solicitor and department time
✔ Provides peace of mind for families

Verifying family trees is not optional - it’s essential. Even small errors can have significant financial and legal consequences. Investing in professional verification early saves time, money, and stress, ensuring estates and COP cases are managed correctly the first time.

Take the first step: verify early, distribute confidently, and protect your clients, their families, and your firm.

At Harrisons Genealogy Solutions, we’re offering a FREE family tree verification this month if you have a tree to hand.

Our team will: