Hello all - thanks for your help.
As far as I'm concerned this forum posting is now COMPLETE.
This morning I contacted by phone, the Perpetual Guardian lawyer, that we were advised to contact, if we had information that we felt could help identify next of kin.
The gentlemam concerned was polite, and business like, as I was expecting. Respecting peoples privacy, but he did assure me that they would be greatful to recieve the family info that was recorded when the gentleman emigrated to NZ. Locating benificeries of an estate for dispersing the residue, can be quite an exercise at times.
Herald part quote :-
Thomas Brugman died in July last year but no next of kin can be found so the funeral home can't cremate the body unless it applies to the High Court to get the Public Trust to take over the process, at a cost of about $200.
Perpetual Guardian has offered to apply to the High Court to execute his estate and put him to rest at their own cost.
As the law stands, if someone dies without next of kin and without a will, someone cannot simply step in to deal with the estate or the body.".
End of quote.
As expected, the Herald reporter possibly assumed too much from the stated offer, of starting the process, of applying to the Court for executorship of the estate. The cost of that filing being approximately $200.
The lawyer did not believe that the offer was "pro bono" but that when the executor had fulfilled their duties, the costs thereof would be viewed favourably if available funds were limited.
Accordingly I forwarded by email Wendy's findings, plus a few notes about the RC forum and team who all pitched in.
I have now recieved an accknoledgment reply, that the material was recived. And a thank you for the effoerts involved.
- Alan.
Added PS.
As we can not discuss the living on line, is the reason for me wishing to complete this thread. However if anyone considers that they have late material of significance I'm happy to forward it.
Just PM me.