Bucks Cnty. C.P. Rule 2.10A

Rule 2.10A Foreign Heirs and Unknown Distributees

The report contemplated by Pennsylvania Orphans’ Court Rule 2.10(b) shall be

submitted as an exhibit to the petition for adjudication and shall include

substantially the following:

1. Unknown Distributee

If it appears that the identity or whereabouts of a distributee is unknown, or there

are no known heirs, the fiduciary shall submit a written report as an exhibit to the

petition for adjudication, verified by the fiduciary or their counsel, which shall set

forth:

a. the nature of the investigation made to locate the heirs of the decedent, in

complete detail; and

b. in cases of intestacy, or where there are no known heirs, a family tree, as

complete as possible under the circumstances supported by such documentary

evidence as the fiduciary has been able to obtain.

The term “investigation” as used in this Rule shall include an inquiry of or to as

many of the following as may be pertinent and feasible: residents of the household

in which the decedent resided; friends and neighbors; labor union membership;

places of employment; social, fraternal or beneficial organizations; insurance

records; religious membership; school records; Social Security, Veterans’

Administration, or military service records; naturalization records, if not native

born; and such other sources of information as the circumstances may suggest.

2. Foreign Distributee

If the fiduciary requests the court to withhold distribution to a foreign distributee,

they shall submit as an exhibit to the petition for adjudication a written report,

verified by the fiduciary or their counsel, in which shall be set forth:

a. the relationship of the distributee to the decedent, and any available information

concerning their present whereabouts;

b. in cases of intestacy, a family tree, as complete as possible under the

circumstances, supported by such documentary evidence as the fiduciary has been

able to obtain; and

c. the reasons for the request that distribution be withheld, and the suggested

manner of withholding.

3. Foreign Distributee. Notice to Attorney General

When at the audit of an account or other proceeding in any estate in this court, it

appears that any distributee is not a resident of the United States and that

distribution to them might or should be withheld, notice of all of the facts and

circumstances shall be given to the Attorney General who will be requested to

participate in the proceedings as amicus curiae.