Welcome to the IAPPR Newsletter
Welcome to the latest Newsletter of the International Association of Professional Probate Researchers. Its purpose is to update you, our member companies’ business partners with what has been happening with the IAPPR and our member companies.
Presently the IAPPR members operate in North America, South America and Europe please see the member page on the IAPPR website for profiles of the members and their businesses.
The purpose of IAPPR is to raise standards in probate research and, due to the IAPPR code of conduct and transparent complaints procedure provide reassurance to those who use our member companies’ services.
The IAPPR is also a portal for those who are unsure of which company to use when they need international research. IAPPR will put you in touch with the appropriate country expert. Just E-Mail – [email protected]
Strategic Partnership
The IAPPR is delighted to have formed its first strategic partnership with IR GLOBAL. IR Global is an international network of the worlds leading legal, accountancy and financial advisors providing clients with the highest quality niche expertise.
IAPPR Company Secretary, Geoffrey Odds commented, “The IAPPR and its members are delighted to have formed our first strategic partnership with IR Legal. As the IAPPR develops we intend to form further such partnerships with international organisations working in fields relating to probate genealogy. We believe that such partnerships produce synergy and provide further evidence of the probity and veracity of our member companies.”
IR Global commented, “IR Global is a multi-disciplinary professional services network that provides legal, accountancy, financial advice to companies and individuals around the world. Our membership consists of the highest quality boutique and mid-sized firms who service the mid-market. Firms which are focused on partner-led, personal service and have extensive cross border experience.
Represented in 155+ jurisdictions, covering over 70 unique practice areas, we are perfectly placed to offer the highest quality bespoke advice that meets the needs of the most complex client requirements. Over the last decade, our community has grown to over 1000 members worldwide based on the principles of friendship, trust and a shared belief in going beyond the traditional role of the adviser.
Today we exist as the ‘go-to’ network for forward-thinking clients looking for creative, pragmatic and cost-effective solutions. We are pleased to have formed a new strategic partnership with IAPPR in order to offer our members access to their unique services.”
IAPPR Annual General Meeting
The third IAPPR annual general meeting took place at the Hilton Clearwater Beach at the end of October 2019.
The meeting was attended by the five Founder Members (Maria Batres via Skype) who were joined by Associate Members Klaas Zondervan of Luminis and An Stofferis of IGS as well as Amy Lay from GEN’s U.S. subsidiary AGHS and Ryan Gregory from Finders International.
Many subjects were discussed during the day-long meeting including legal differences between territories, future partnerships and the expansion of IAPPR membership, to further spread the IAPPR’s positive influence.
The meeting was a great success enabling members to share their experience and gain a greater understanding of probate genealogy throughout the world. The event is unique in the industry and further demonstrates how the IAPPR is seeking to share information to improve and raise standards.
Recent Media
A TV feature on the German television station 3sat broadcast on 9 October 2019 gave an insight into the difficult and profound work of the genealogists of the Erbenermittlung Dr. Hans-J. Noczenski GmbH. https://www.3sat.de/gesellschaft/politik-und-gesellschaft/verwalter-des-einsamen-todes-104.html
The Erbenermittlung Hans-J. Noczenski GmbH has been a subsidiary of GEN Gesellschaft für Erbenermittlung mbH since 2016 and is managed by Dr. Nobert Herms. The genealogical office, based in the city of Gera, in the middle of Germany, has been working since 1997 for unknown heirs, estate administrators and probate courts in Germany and also abroad. In particular, the company provides research and services to clarify estate matters. Loyalty, transparency, quality and trustful cooperation are a matter of course. A very special archive for genealogy is a big feature of the company. The company greatly benefits from the global network of the GEN Gesellschaft für Erbenermittlung mbH and is thus highly efficient and competitive.
International Research
Following the successful visit to Guyana, as reported in the October Newsletter, I found myself in the tropics again on my way to the IAPPR Annual General Meeting in Florida.
First stop was Jamaica, and on the basis that most information would be found in Kingston, I based myself there only to find that the main records office was a forty-five-minute taxi ride over to Spanish town.
There I queued in the somewhat disorganised records office to be given a number to then wait for help. There was no further organisation, so I sat for some while fairly sure I was in the wrong place but patiently waiting for my turn. Eventually, when my turn came I was told I was in the wrong place! The genealogy department is in an entirely different part of the building and although they were professional and helpful, time and patience are needed to get results.
The interior of Jamaica is beautiful, and I enjoyed a day driving out to Mandeville to visit a potential beneficiary before heading to Rose Hall to find another. Here the Sat Nav decided it was a good idea to take me on a direct route over the mountains which ended in a dirt trail so it was reverse back and then an interminable journey to the north coast and a quicker journey back on Highway 2000.
I headed from Jamaica to Trinidad where I had four cases to deal with. The records office had in the last year changed location and although the public-facing part of the office is modern and efficient access to records has become much more limited. This lead to time-consuming searches through other records and many phone calls and visits to other sources of information. I visited several locations in different parts of the island before finally having a huge breakthrough on the last day there. Visiting the last address of the deceased’s family I found by engaging with some ‘interesting’ characters on the street, information about the family which should lead to a successful conclusion of the case. Walking back to the car some other locals told me I shouldn’t be in that area, so I beat a hasty retreat but with the information I needed.
So, to repeat myself from the Guyana report I found valuable information that could only be obtained by visiting the country in person and illustrates how IAPPR members work internationally and will go to great lengths to trace beneficiaries no matter where they might be.
And Finally
IAPPR is expanding. We are currently processing applications for new members in new territories and welcome applications from new companies. So, if you are interested in IAPPR membership, please contact us via e-mail.