In the 1950's, George Millerton inherited some worthless mineral rights from his uncle. In 1960, after a bitter divorce, he moved to Chicago. In the 1970's, he moved to California. He lived very modestly, mostly in "gentlemen's hotels". In 1985, it was found that his mineral rights had value. Not much, but enough to make a real difference to George. In addition to locating George (now the resident manager of a gentleman's hotel) Josh Butler went to work for George to find his three daughters, whom George had not seen in twenty years. There was a happy reunion. The daughters sent photographs of themselves with their very happy father. .......................... William O. Fish was a prominent stock broker when he bought some Texas mineral rights in 1920. He forgot about them when they became worthless. But in 1973, when O.P.E.C. turned off the valve, these mineral rights were no longer worthless. Josh Butler had only Mr. Fish's name and his 1920 office address: 20 Wall Street, New York City. But it was enough to find Mr. Fish's three daughters who received the mineral rights.

"Happier Times" 1950

• Wilbert McBride was a well-educated, well-travelled mining engineer. Late in his career he accepted a prestigious teaching post. His daughter and only child, Mary, took a modest bequest from an aunt and left her father on her eighteenth birthday. She moved to Arizona. For the ensuing twenty-five years, Mary lived well, receiving a small but regular allowance from her father. But her father died relatively poor and, eventually, Mary had nothing. She married in her 38th year. She gave birth to her only child when she was 40. Her husband died when she was 42. Alone, with an infant in poor health and with no money, Mary entered the Arizona State Psychiatric Hospital where she died in her 49th year. Her son, Creed, was raised by distant cousins.

• Herbert and Mary Johnson had two children, Clithro and Crystelle. They divorced and Mary took the kids 'out west.' She remarried four times within fifteen years. Each time, the children used their new step-father's surname, although they were never legally adopted by any of the step-fathers. Herbert dies without a will. The myriad name changes and moves make the search long and difficult.

• An eighty year old woman, confined to her home, is duped into signing a will leaving the bulk of her estate to persons she hardly knows. At her death, her lawyer probates the will and claims that no family can be found. This is not true.

• Hedda and Marvin Storch buy shares in a Florida land development. They discover too late that it is a swamp. They feel foolish. They put it behind them, forget about it. Twenty years later, the Courts, in a class action suit, make a substantial award to all class members, Hedda and Marvin among them.

• Plaintiff's Counsel retains Josh Butler to locate those class members who have, over the years, moved and become lost. Hedda and Marvin are surprised and well pleased. The system sometimes works.

• Two twin brothers, mildly retarded, have drifted off from their seven brothers and sisters. They work in a sheltered work place and sustain themselves. They are well-liked and independent. On a New Year's Eve a decade ago, they are simultaneously murdered. It is found that both had purchased life insurance in substantial amounts, each naming the other as beneficiary. They leave no will and there is no information on their families. Because they died simultaneously, the life insurance proceeds pass to their next-of-kin.

• Bob Terry is a single man, happy in his work as a groom at race tracks. He travels from track to track, taking on work as he needs it or finds it. His uncle dies and leaves him a little over $15,000.00.

This is only a sampling of a few of our thousands of cases. We are called upon hundreds of times a year to locate missing beneficiaries of all kinds of assets. From the mundane (shares of stock that have been valueless for years) to the unusual (inheritances from third cousins twice removed!) we handle them all. We handle very large estates and relatively small matters as well. Every case and every claimant is important to us. Whether you will receive a large bequest or just a few hundred dollars, you will receive our personal attention.

We have been in business since 1983. We intend to be in business for many decades to come. We earn our reputation daily.