Have you received an email, direct message, or SMS from Terra Ancestra?
This indicates you may be entitled to an inheritance from a distant relative or forgotten property. It's vital to be careful, numerous inheritance emails circulate monthly, yet only a handful are legitimate. Real emails, nonetheless, can result in substantial financial outcomes. Always confirm our communication line.
Steps to verify our communication:
• We will contact you from contact@terraancestra.com or jan.kolar@terraancestra.com. Please reply to these addresses only.
• If contacted via social networks, our LinkedIn and Facebook profiles are verified, indicated by a verification badge.
• Our US phone number is +1 256 270 1056 and our Czech number is +420 775 272 827. Feel free to call back and request additional verification via email.
• Remember, we will never ask you for any upfront payment.
You have verified the authenticity of our contact.
What’s next?
Terra Ancestra specializes in locating forgotten properties and identifying their rightful heirs when notaries are unable to do so. To proceed with reclaiming the property and assisting the family in redistributing the sale proceeds, we request that you sign a simple contract and grant us power of attorney to represent you. This will enable us to manage the legal and administrative processes on your behalf effectively.
Will I have to pay anything?
Heirs are never charged in cases we handle. Our business operates on a success fee basis. If it is determined during the process that the potential inheritance will be distributed to someone else (e.g., if a will is found), no fee will be charged.
Furthermore, we cover the following expenses:
• Legal representation in all involved countries
• Certification and translation of official documents for the proceeding
• Archival research
• Notary fees
• Professional appraisals
• Legal representation in the sales process
• Certification and translation of documents for the sale
• Real estate provision fees
How much is the success fee?
The success fee is only applicable if we successfully reclaim the property and assist the family in monetising it. This fee ranges between 23% and 38% of the asset value, depending on factors such as whether the case is international, the property’s potential value, and the complexity of the case (e.g., number of heirs, number of parcels, co-owned land). In instances where legal action is necessary, the fees are determined on a case-by-case basis.
In some cases, we directly purchase the property at the end of the proceedings. This usually occurs when the property’s value is under 100,000 USD or when the sales process is lengthy, for example, due to the involvement of the municipality.
Why are all details sometimes not provided upfront?
In some cases, we cannot disclose the name or location of the deceased before signing the contract due to the extensive and costly research involved. Our company specializes in challenging inheritance proceedings where notaries are unable to locate heirs on their own. Without our involvement, your potential estate might be seized by the state. Our operations rely on processing fees, which are essential for our work. Your case is funded by fees from previous families, and your fees will help us contact other families regarding their ancestors’ lost properties in the future.
What will happen if you don’t reply?
We typically attempt multiple points of contact. If you and your family are not interested in the inheritance, please respond with a simple “no,” which will prevent further communication attempts. Your share of the estate will then be distributed among the remaining heirs. If you and your family are the only heirs, the estate will be seized by the state.
Jan Antonin Kolar
Managing Director
Jan brings a unique blend of expertise in finance, genealogy, and real estate. He holds a degree in finance from Masaryk University and is a licensed realtor. With extensive experience in archival work, his family tree comprises over 1,200 individuals. His role at Terra Ancestra involves working closely with heirs, ensuring smooth and transparent communication throughout the property reclamation process and sale.
Ondrej Zemek
Attorney at Law
Ondrej Zemek is an attorney specializing in international matters, acquisitions, and mergers. Having studied at the University of Nottingham in the UK, his expertise is particularly valuable for dealing with international inheritances, especially when obtaining documents from different states and presenting them in the local language.