Georgina was told a distant relative had died and she had inherited a fortune
When Georgina got a call claiming she had inherited £500,000 from a cousin in the USA, she dismissed it – until she got a knock at the door. Georgina, 69, was finally convinced that the contact was genuine, and she was the only heir to a woman who died alone in Brooklyn, New York, without a will.
Georgina – who is protecting her identity – said: “I honestly didn’t know what to think. I put the phone down at first. But overnight, I thought I’d better check what it was about. Then there was a knock on the door. A really lovely former police officer from Finders International introduced himself with identification and gently explained that they believed I had a first cousin in America called Joanna – and that sadly she had passed away.”
Joanna, aka Jo, an esteemed epidemiologist with a PhD, lived alone in an apartment in Plaza Street West, Brooklyn until she died in November 2022.. When she died she had not made a will. With no children, no siblings, and no known relatives in America, it was the building manager who notified the authorities of her death.
Finders International, which says it is the UK’s largest and most globally connected probate genealogy firm, and stars in the BBC TV series Heir Hunters, was called in to trace Jo’s family and establish if there were any relatives entitled to inherit her valuable estate. Georgina – Jo’s first cousin and only surviving relative – was identified. And she was to inherit the entire estate – valued at around half a million pounds.
Georgina said: “I was stunned. I did know Jo. She had always ‘been there’ on our radar, although we hadn’t actually met since I was a very young girl. My mother and her father, George, were siblings.
“Then I was told that I was in-line for a valuable inheritance, because Jo had died intestate. Everything since then has been a whirlwind. I’ve been to New York to appear in court as part of the inheritance proceedings. While there I visited a memorial bench Jo’s friends had dedicated to her in a nearby park and did some sightseeing too. It was emotional – but also an incredible experience.
“Jo’s dad, Uncle George, would often come back to the UK to visit our family, and in between times, Uncle George’s letters often included photos of Jo and her achievements. Our family in Durham always knew Jo ‘was there’ and got snippets about her life.”
While Georgina hadn’t seen Jo in decades, they had exchanged Christmas cards and letters for years. Georgina said: “I had actually wondered why I hadn’t received a card from Jo last Christmas. I couldn’t believe the news. Jo was the last cousin that I had. I felt numb.
“The first thing I want to do is arrange a headstone for Uncle George and Jo here in Durham. I’d like to have a place locally where I can visit and remember them. After that, I don’t know what I’ll do but of course I’ll help my children and grandchildren – and maybe even plan another trip to New York.”
Jo’s story was one of quiet determination and transatlantic ties. She was involved in research affiliated with Colombia University into HIV and its transmission among drug users. Born in Durham in 1947 to George, a member of the RAF, and Isabel, an American. Jo was raised in the US after her parents settled there permanently in 1948. Though separated by oceans, George’s letters and photos over the years kept the family connection alive in the UK.
Katelyn Bennett, International Case Manager at Finders International, said: “We were thrilled to locate Georgina and help unite her with her inheritance. While Jo hadn’t made a will so we don’t know her final wishes, we like to think she would have been happy that her only remaining cousin and final connection to the UK is benefiting from it. Jo’s story shows the power of connection and the importance of our work on a human basis -even across continents.”
Simonne Llewellyn, CEO of Finders International, said: “Our work has profoundly positive effects on peoples’ lives – as this recent case shows. Our international department is increasingly busy and we are experiencing an up-tick in trans-Atlantic cases in recent years – with UK émigrés settled in the US dying intestate.”
Finders International says it is the UK’s largest professional probate genealogy firm, tracing missing heirs, beneficiaries, assets and next of kin worldwide. Established in 1997, with offices London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Yorkshire, as well as Dublin and Sydney, it works with lawyers, councils, healthcare trusts, and private individuals across the world. It featured on the BBC’s Heir Hunters.
