The Heir Hunters Due Diligence

This characte was inspired by reading those great adventures written by Richard S. Prather, John D. MacDonald & Robert B. Parker whose characters - Shell Scott, Travis McGee and Spenser, respectively - will bring some pleasure to those who miss them. Jordan "Lucky" Chance has a Don Quixote attitude to go with his hard edged personality and cynical view of the world. Private Investigator, Jordan "Lucky" Chance, is doing his thing. He is working a case that takes him from the comfort of his tropical confines on Florida's Gulf Coast to the Pacific NW and Montana where he grew up. But, the way this case twists and turns this might be where he ends up being buried. Maybe "Lucky" isn't so lucky after all.
About the Author: Gerald E. Daugherty is a former (US Army) CIC Special Agent and veteran Private Investigator. He has over 20 years of experience in determining, locating and assisting heirs to claim funds held by governmental agencies in the names of deceased persons. In 1984, he started looking for assets belonging to the Estates of his uncle (who died at age 49 in 1964) and for his father, (who died at age 54 in 1970); and for his Paternal grandfather (who died at age 88 in 1982). All three had died without Wills and each had considerable assets, but left little written record as to what or where they were located. He eventually discovered that there were substantial holdings in farm land in two states, and Canada, as well as titles, business contracts, and uncollected secured debts from loans to friends and family. He found stocks, tax credit records, lease agreements, and U.S. Savings Bonds when he finally tracked down some expired safe deposit boxes whose contents had been put in storage by the banks. And there were death benefits from life insurance policies that no one knew existed. Back then there was no access to records via the internet. There was no internet! Research required going to the various county courthouses and searching through hand written records stored in large bound books and/or viewing land and official records on microfiche and microfilm. The Internet has changed all that. It is easier today to do the necessary research and acquire information on family property and Probate records, but the public is rightfully skeptical and should be when contacted and told they are an "heir". They need to ask questions and to verify that it is not a scam or an attempt at identity theft. Due Diligence on their part is as essential for their protection as for the "locator" to be sure they are a legal beneficiary to the Estate.