Our Philosophy

Our work is to locate lost and unknown heirs and beneficiaries, and to work on their behalf to obtain all that is rightfully theirs.

We will work diligently, confident that our competence is second to none, our persistence unparalleled and our integrity above question.

We will in all matters follow the law, treat all persons fairly, and at all times Do What is Right.

Our Company values the contribution of every member of our staff. We recognize our responsibility, financial and otherwise, to our staff and to the community.

In adhering to these simple principles, we believe that our Company will prosper and permanently succeed.

General Guidelines we have set for our company:

1. We do not work on competitive cases....where so-called heirfinders are tracing heirs to an estate that is only hours or days old and where, with a little time and minimal effort the heirs would be found by the estate's personal representative in due course. We expect the personal representative to make an effort to find heirs before we become involved. A look at the decedent's address book, a visit with neighbors or a perusal of the funeral home visitors' book are among the steps that might be taken before involving any research firm.
2. Advice to anyone who is approached (usually in person) by someone claiming to have information about your entitlement to an estate: If they are in a hurry for you to sign a contract, then you know that this is probably a "competitive" estate and that, in time, you will be found by the personal representative or a research firm retained or authorized by the estate.
3. Personal Searches: We do not search for missing friends, old classmates, lost dogs or kids. We do not do genealogies for family history purposes. We don't trace deadbeat dads or debtors. We trace heirs and other persons entitled to valuable assets. That is our only work, always has been, always will be.
4. Non-commission employees: All of our employees are non-commissioned. What does this mean to you? It means unerring accuracy in our research. It means that our employees are going to find the right people--and all of them--with no possible temptation to cut corners. Yes, we have employee profit sharing, but never contingent upon the production or success rate of any employee. Our people, working as a team, will take the time they need to do the job that must be done.

Finding Lost Fortunes

5. We don’t. As a practical matter, we always start with money and then find the people to whom it belongs. We do not start out with the people, and then try to find money that would belong to them.

6. We get calls and letters about the "lost family fortune" and would we please help the family find it. They are just real sure it’s there, because Uncle Raymond had a lot of land in the 1920's and he never had any kids. The sad fact is that nothing comes of these elusive fortunes.

7. There are several old chestnuts in this business, long and involved stories of goldmines or oil wells.... The Spindletop story is one, involving ownership of the Spindletop Oil Fields of Eastern Texas. Thousands of people, claiming to be descendants of a fellow named "Meadors" are lining up to collect billions of dollars from the big oil companies. It is sad to see folks pinning their hopes on such a thin thread. Even if- and that’s one Big "if"- they could prove they owned some or all of it, the money just is not there....and won’t ever be. Maybe it was once, but that’s another story.