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Inheritance tax (IHT) is levied on the estate of someone who has died and is passing on their assets, so long as the total estate value is over £325,000. Where IHT is due, it is usually

charged at 40 percent and in some cases, this charge can be paid by beneficiaries themselves. IHT can be managed by the usage of Wills but in some instances, it can become unclear as to who

is meant to inherit assets where a Will is not in place. In light of these challenges, a "heir hunter" industry emerged and unfortunately, this has created an area where consumers

and families could be targeted through dubious practices. Philip Turvey, an executive director at Anglia Research, warned this could be a much more prevalent issue than many may expect. He

said: "The TV series Heir Hunters sensationalised the probate genealogy sector and, due to the lack of barriers to entry, this led to an exponential rise in the number of unethical,

unqualified firms who have no qualms in engaging in underhand tactics at the expense of beneficiaries. READ MORE: ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE: PENSIONERS MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR COUNCIL TAX PERKS “Our

FOI report – which surveyed all local authorities in England and Wales – found that seven councils have exclusive written contracts with heir hunters: a practice which limits the amount of

scrutiny given to each case. "Some unethical heir hunters use these types of written contracts to only identify easy to find heirs to an estate, collect their fee and forgo the rest of

the beneficiaries – potentially resulting years of legal battles for some to get the inheritance they are owed. “Other unethical heir hunters also use pressure-selling tactics, such as

emotional manipulation or pushing a beneficiary to sign a fee agreement by falsely telling them there is a deadline.” Fortunately, Philip went on to break down how families can check if a

claim from an heir hunter is legit and how unethical practices could be identified. DON'T MISS: Virgin Money offers 2% interest rate account & 'free' gift worth £140

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BENEFICIARIES CAN CHECK IF A CLAIM FROM AN HEIR HUNTER IS LEGIT There are a number of basic actions families can take to ensure legitimacy, as Philip explained: “Probate genealogy firms

usually get in touch via a letter, phone call or email, but just because they have your contact information, it doesn't mean they are legit. "Beneficiaries should do some initial

research of their own into the probate genealogy firm before committing. "For example, they could check to see if the firm is registered at Companies House which will show how long the

company has been trading for. Independent online reviews, such as those provided by Google, are also worth reading to learn about the experience of others. “Beneficiaries should also check

the firm’s website and search for any valid and applicable accreditations. "Beneficiaries must remember that the fee for a probate genealogist is always paid on the conclusion of the

estate administration and usually by direct deduction from the amount you are entitled to. "Any probate genealogist or heir hunter telling you differently, and requesting direct payment

before this stage should not be trusted. “Consumers need to remember this when dealing with a probate genealogist and check their rights before signing on the dotted line.” Impartial

guidance on inheritance, probate and Will rules can be sought from the likes of the Money Advice Service and Citizens Advice.