§ MR. MONTAGU SCOTTasked the Secretary to the Treasury, What means the Treasury afford to give information to the public with respect to the estates of intestates escheated to the Crown; whether it is true that persons claiming to be interested have been and are refused information; and, if so, why; and, whether the Government has in anticipation the taking of any steps to afford facilities in future to claimants of such estates?
§ MR. COURTNEYWhen the Solicitor to the Treasury administers an estate to which an individual may possibly be entitled, the same advertisements are published as when a private person administers; and Crown administrations can be searched for in the same way as others among the records of the Probate Court. Escheats of real estate cannot be enjoyed by the Crown except after a public local inquiry; and if an heir-at-law is possible he is widely advertised for. It must be remembered that a majority of the estates dealt with by the Treasury Solicitor are cases of illegitimacy, in which there can be no legal claim. Any person claiming to be interested in an estate and giving primâ facie evidence of bona, fides receives all information which can properly be given. It is in contemplation to append to the annual account of the Crown's nominee the names of the estates brought into administration within the year.