The Register of Service of Heirs contains records that prove a person is the closest blood relative of someone who has died.
The service of heirs is a judicial process by which heirs demonstrate kinship to someone who has passed away, thus allowing them to inherit property.
The register was established by the Service of Heirs Act 1847, though the Succession (Scotland) Act 1964 abolished the service of heirs process. You can still follow the process where an ancestor died before 10 September 1965, when the 1964 Act came into force.
Register
Applications for registration in this register are extremely rare. If you intend to submit an application, please contact us in advance.
Search
Email cajr@ros.gov.uk to enquire about searching the Register of Service of Heirs.