Bona vacantia

Bona vacantia (Latin, meaning vacant goods) is a doctrine of the common law in England under which ownerless property passes by law to the Crown. It has largely replaced the doctrine of escheat, which had a similar effect in relation to feudal tenures.

The Bona Vacantia division of the Treasury Solicitor's Department of the UK Government is responsible for dealing with bona vacantia assets, which are chiefly:

• Treasure Trove
• Assets of companies for which ownership cannot be traced
• Assets of the estates of those deceased who died intestate and for whom no beneficiaries can be traced.

In Scotland, bona vacantia is administered by the Queen's & Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer, an office held by the Crown Agent, the senior official in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).

External links

• Bona Vacantia
• Treasury Solicitor's Department
• Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service