FAQ's
Q. Who do you locate?
IGS searches for specific individuals or classes of individuals, or groups of people (related or unrelated) and provides any required legal documentation and supplementary information to prove and establish the identities of these individuals or related family members, alive or deceased. This includes search services for:
Missing Heir Search
Missing Beneficiaries Search
Missing Legatees Search
Notice to Heirs Search
Quiet Title Search
Mass Tort Plaintiffs Search
Due Diligence Search
Witness to Will Search
Heirs of Wrongful Death Search
Intellectual Property Owners/Copyright Owners Search
Class Action Search
Q. Who do you work with?
IGS welcomes the opportunity to work with lawyers, trust officers, investment advisors, fiduciary services firms and other professional intermediaries. As a general rule, we do not offer our services directly to the public. However, if you are a private individual looking for missing heirs in your capacity as an executor or trustee of a trust or estate matter, we invite you to have your attorney contact us initially after which we would be pleased to work with you to achieve your objectives
We typically work with:
Trust and Estate Officers at Financial Institutions
Attorneys specializing in - Estate and Probate
- Real Estate
- Litigation including Class Action
- Mass Tort
- Wrongful Death
- Intellectual Property
Q. Do you search for life insurance policies to see if I am a beneficiary?
No, IGS does not work for private individuals wanting to search for life insurance policies, unclaimed money, bequests or in search for any type of an inheritance.
Q. Do you do genealogical research for individuals working on their own family history?
No, IGS does not conduct searches for personal purposes. IGS only works on searches for attorneys and trust professionals who have the objective of fulfilling a fiduciary responsibility.Q. What are your fees?
Standard Search Fees quoted in advance are determined by a set fee schedule based upon the type of search required and are guaranteed... Results or No Charge". Where a budgetary or due diligence search may be necessary, services on an hourly fee basis, paid in advance, may be considered.Q. Do you charge the heirs a percentage of the heirs inheritance?
Never! IGS does not work on a percentage basis. We do not approach an heir for a percentage of their inheritance and we do not charge a "windfall" amount to take advantage of an estate. We never initiate a search without your authorization. We work with the attorney or fiduciary agent for fees that are reasonable and quoted in advance. This makes our fees fair for the work performed and fair to the heirs.Q. Do you need a retainer?
For our Standard Fees, we do not ask for a retainer and we do not charge until the successful completion of the search. For hourly searches, we require a retainer and we invoice monthly for research hours used.Q. Are you capable of searching in a foreign country?
Yes, not only can we search throughout North America, since 1967 we have also successfully conducted research in more than 25 other countries around the world.Q. What kind of information do you need? How much information do you need to start?
This is a very common question. Our clients are often surprised at how little information may be required to begin our research. Our professional search specialists will profile your case with you and ask pertinent questions to determine the type of research needed to solve your case.Q. Have you done this type of search before?
Yes. We have been in business for over 40 years and conducted almost every search type imaginable. Our professional search specialists will assist you in determining the type of research you need to solve your case.Q. How long will a search take?
Depending on the scope of the search, it can take days, weeks, or months to complete the search and secure relevant documentation.Typically, we require a 90 day search authorization for domestic searches (and often complete it much more quickly), but for more comprehensive or overseas searches, 180 days or longer may be required.
