Records of the Conveyancing and Bona Vacantia Divisions

Division within TS

1658-1980

Records relating to governmental conveyancing and lands advisory services, and the administration of property forfeit to the Crown.

Selected case papers and letters of administration (to 1857) relating to estates are to be found in TS 17, and records of one estate, that of the West New Jersey Society, are in TS 12. Warrants and authorities for payments to claimants are in TS 30. Pedigrees compiled by claimants (or their lawyers) in bona vacantia cases are in TS 33

Public Record(s)

English

• HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor, Bona Vacantia Division, 1956-1975
• HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor, Conveyancing and Bona Vacantia Division, 1953-1956
• HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor, Conveyancing and Bona Vacantia Divisions, 1941-1945
• HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor, Conveyancing Division, 1946-1953
• HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor, Conveyancing Division, 1956-1975

4 series

Topics

Conveyancing

Americas

Conveyancing and Bona Vacantia Divisions were set up during the Second World War in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, with Conveyancing Division's function to provide conveyancing and lands advisory services to government departments, and to deal with the additional work brought about by the war, such as compulsory acquisitions, matters relating to defence of the realm and claims of all kinds by, and against the authorities. After the War, the Conveyancing Division was created in London.

In 1953, a Conveyancing and Bona Vacantia Division was created, with Conveyancing and Bona Vacantia sections. In 1956, these sections were split to form separate Conveyancing and Bona Vacantia Divisions, with the Bona Vacantia Division undertaking the administrative work of the department in respect of property forfeit to the Crown as bona vacantia, owing to the owner's dying intestate, or testate without dispersing of the residue of his/her estate, or without being survived by lawful heir, or the property of dissolved companies and trusts which have failed or been determined.

By 1970 there were 50 conveyancing lawyers (supported by 30 non-professionals) engaged on conveyancing and lands advisory work for other government departments.

In 1989, the Conveyancing Division was re-named the Property Division. In 1991 the Property Division was re-located from London to Taunton, Somerset.

In 1993 the Property Division was established as a Next Steps Agency of the Treasury Solicitor's Department, with its own Chief Executive, and the title Government Property Lawyers. The aim of the Agency is to provide a complete conveyancing and lands advisory service to government departments and publicly funded bodies in England and Wales.