Freedom of Information Act Request
Reference: ECC21150114 09 26
Response: 14 September 2026
I can confirm that Essex County Council does hold this information, and where we are able to release this, our response is listed below.
From: 2026-07-01
To: 2026-09-11
FOI request this is a separate request for the attention of the teams listed below
This is a new request for new information only. It is not a repeated request.
Please could you kindly send me any information you may hold relating to persons who are/were known to the Council via any of the following teams and who have died with:
- no known next of kin (defined as blood relatives) OR
- where you have been unable to engage with or locate any KNOWN next of kin,
Please provide details of cases that have occurred or come to your attention since 1/7/26 to the day of your reply or as close as possible.
The name of the team responsible varies but exists within all County Councils, London Boroughs, Unitary & Metropolitan District Councils.
Team names:
. Deputyship
. Appointeeship
. Adult social care
. Client Finance Team
. Protection of Property
. Financial Assessment
. Other team name whereby Council official(s) were charged with handling the financial affairs of the (now deceased) person
Please provide as much of the following information as you can:
1. full names of deceased persons,
2. dates of death,
3. marital status,
4. maiden surnames of married or widowed females,
5. dates of birth or ages at death,
6. last known addresses,
7. estimated value of estates,
8. date(s) when the information was passed (or information that
is about to be or likely to be passed) to the Government Legal Department (formerly Treasury Solicitor) or the Duchy of Lancaster or Cornwall or any other 3rd party, or, confirmation that this will not be happening and the reason why.
I should be grateful if you would supply the information as soon as convenient. Please email replies and let me know if you have any questions, many thanks.
I can confirm that Essex County Council does hold information falling within the scope of the above request, however, we are applying s31 (1) (a) Law Enforcement – The Prevention or Detection of Crime. Section 31 is a prejudice-based exemption. This means that we must demonstrate that disclosing the information could be harmful. It is also subject to a public interest test as set out below.
Prejudice:
Our Fraud Team have made us aware that requests such as these are being used by scammers trying to claim the estates from deceased individuals. Whilst this may not be the case in this instance, any disclosure under FOI is considered a closure to the world at large which places legitimate heirs or other individuals at risk of harm from fraud.
Public Interest Test:
Factors in favour of non-disclosure:
· To protect the information of the residents of Essex
· To prevent the risk of fraud against individuals
In favour of disclosure:
· Informing public debate
Balancing Test
Whilst the information of the deceased is not covered by the Data Protection Act 2018, and therefore not subject to the s40 exemption; we have a duty to protect any confidential data, or data about those deceased persons which may, if made public, harm a living individual. Having considered the above factors, I believe the public interest is in favour of upholding this exemption. This is our refusal notice in respect of your request.
Your Right to Know
Democracy and Transparency
Essex County Council
Telephone: 033301 38989
Email: YourRight.ToKnow@essex.gov.uk | www.essex.gov.uk
