Privacy Notice

Last updated: [5/2/2026]

1. Who We Are

UK Probate Genealogy (“we”, “us”, “our”) provides probate genealogy, beneficiary tracing, and related research services. We operate the website www.ukprobgen.co.uk and act as a data controller for the personal data we process.

Contact details:
Email: info@ukprobgen.co.uk
Address: 9 Thorneyholme Drive, Knutsford, WA16 8BT

2. Whose Data We Process

We process personal data relating to two main groups:

A. Our Customers (Probate Lawyers, Solicitors, and Professional Clients)

These are individuals or organisations who instruct us to carry out research or tracing services.

B. Beneficiaries and Potential Beneficiaries of Deceased Estates

These individuals are not our customers, but we process their personal data to identify, locate, and contact them so they can receive information about a potential inheritance.

3. The Personal Data We Collect

A. Customers (Probate Lawyers / Professional Clients)

We may collect:

  • Name, job title, and contact details

  • Firm or organisation information

  • Case instructions and correspondence

  • Billing and payment information

  • Documents you provide to us

  • Website usage data (IP address, browser type, pages visited)

B. Beneficiaries and Potential Beneficiaries

We may collect:

  • Name, date of birth, and contact details

  • Family relationships and genealogical information

  • Addresses (current and historical)

  • Identity verification information

  • Information from public records, archives, and registries

  • Information provided by solicitors, executors, or other professionals

  • Information we obtain during tracing enquiries

We only collect information relevant to establishing identity, entitlement, or contact details.

4. How We Use Personal Data

A. Customers

We use your data to:

  • Respond to enquiries

  • Provide our services

  • Manage our relationship with you

  • Maintain business records

  • Comply with legal and regulatory obligations

B. Beneficiaries and Potential Beneficiaries

We use your data to:

  • Carry out genealogical and probate research

  • Identify and verify potential heirs

  • Trace and contact beneficiaries

  • Provide information to solicitors, executors, or estate administrators

  • Support the administration of a deceased person’s estate

  • Comply with legal obligations relating to estate administration

We do not use personal data for automated decision‑making or marketing.

5. Lawful Bases for Processing

A. Customers

  • Contract – to provide the services you have instructed us to carry out

  • Legal obligation – where required by law

  • Legitimate interests – to operate and improve our business

B. Beneficiaries and Potential Beneficiaries

  • Legitimate interests – to identify, trace, and contact individuals who may be entitled to inherit from an estate

  • Legal obligation – where processing is required for estate administration

  • Public task – where accessing public records is necessary for genealogical research

  • Vital interests – rarely, where contact is required to protect someone’s essential interests (e.g., confirming identity to prevent fraud)

Our legitimate interests include:

  • Ensuring estates are administered correctly

  • Assisting solicitors and executors in fulfilling their duties

  • Preventing misidentification or fraudulent claims

6. Sharing Your Personal Data

We may share data with:

  • Solicitors, executors, and estate administrators

  • Courts, registries, and government bodies

  • Professional advisers (e.g., translators, notaries, genealogists)

  • Service providers who support our operations (e.g., secure email, cloud storage)

We do not sell personal data.

Where data is transferred outside the UK, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place.

7. How Long We Keep Your Data

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary for:

  • The administration of the estate

  • Legal and regulatory requirements

  • Business and audit purposes

When no longer required, data is securely deleted or anonymised.

8. Your Rights

Under UK data protection law, you have the right to:

  • Access your personal data

  • Request correction of inaccurate information

  • Request deletion (in certain circumstances)

  • Object to processing based on legitimate interests

  • Request restriction of processing

  • Request data portability

  • Withdraw consent (where applicable)

Beneficiaries should note:
Some rights may be limited where data is processed for legal obligations or estate administration.

You can contact us to exercise your rights.

If you are unhappy with how we handle your data, you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

9. Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website uses cookies to:

  • Improve performance

  • Understand visitor behaviour

  • Enhance user experience

You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings.

10. Security

We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data from loss, misuse, or unauthorised access.

11. Changes to This Notice

We may update this notice from time to time. The latest version will always be available on our website.