Val Taylor’s story highlights a dark chapter of the British legal system regarding inheritance and how it affects the lives of people and communities.

The experience of a woman who devoted her life to caring for children comes to a paradoxical end, with her fortune passing into the hands of King Charles.

The police raid on Val Taylor’s home after her death is a scene that leaves neighbors with mixed feelings. The presence of officials representing the royal family on their way is causing confusion and questions about the reasoning behind the decision for King Charles to inherit the estate.

This case raises the question of justice and social difference. How can passing the estate to a member of the royal family be justified when people like Val Taylor, who have dedicated their lives to the service of the community, find themselves without heirs?

The transfer of Val Taylor’s estate to King Charles III appears to be based on a traditional legal system, which in England is called ‘bona vacantia’.

Under this system, if a person dies without any relatives to inherit his property, that property passes to the king.

The case of Val Taylor is an example of how this system works. Since she had no relatives and was an only child, her fortune ended up with King Charles. This is based on the idea that property that remains “vacant” (bona vacantia) should be returned to the state body, in this case, the king.

This system seems to apply in the vast majority of cases, but there are exceptions for people who die in lands attached to medieval manors attached to the duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster.

This reflects older historical relationships and structures that still influence the way heritage is managed in some areas.

David Fry’s story reveals a dark side of the legal system around inheritance and how some people’s assets end up in the hands of the dukedom, and therefore the royal family.

The reaction of Stanley Kostrzewski, a friend of David Fry, reflects the upsetting nature of the situation, where the estate of a man who did not leave a will ends up with the king. The duchy’s strategic use of law firms such as Farrer & Co highlights the seriousness and intensity of the legal complexities of such cases.

Publishing information about the deceased, such as middle names, dates of birth, marital status and other information, is a critical step in locating potential relatives. Using regularly updated spreadsheets is an effective tool for managing and searching for information.

Death notices are published for a limited time in some local newspapers.

The difficulty in locating next of kin in cases like this highlights the challenges bereaved relatives and experts face in finding information about people who die without known next of kin. The lack of transparency and difficulty in accessing this information make tracing heirs complicated and time-consuming.

The duchy’s practice of setting aside money in an arrears fund appears to be an attempt to deal with the possibility of next of kin appearing in the future. However, this process can be arduous and take many years, causing concern and confusion for those concerned.