Hi Ann There is a big difference between intestate estates where there is no valid Will, and those where there is no one to inherit and the estate becomes the property of the Crown (bona vacantia). If the value of the estate is low and will not cover the costs of cremation, getting the assets in and turning them into cash, the Crown will disclaim its right to ownership and the assets are up for grabs by whoever has them. Often the assets are insufficient to cover the costs of cremation by the local Council if there is no one else to arrange this. Occasionally there is a surplus which is sent to the Treasury Solicitor who deals with bona vacantia. Intestate estates are estates distributed as directed by the statutory rules instead of the deceased's intentions as specified in a Will. As the government can't get its hands on these ( other than through taxation), they are dealt with in much the same way as estates where there is a valid Will. The Probate Registry of the High Court deals with applications for Probate (Will) and Letters of Administration(no Will) and the estate is collected in and distributed by the persons to whom the Court has granted Probate or Letters of Administration as the case may be. Best wishes Davidin Bexhill, East Sussex. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ann wrote:-> I am trying to locate a U.K. government agency that handles the estates of people who are intestate and/or do not have any known living relatives. Does anyone know what agency that would be? _________________________________________________________________ Get free emoticon packs and customisation from Windows Live. http://www.pimpmylive.co.uk