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Independent Contractor Heir Research Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Independent Contractor Heir Research information

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$82.2K

$154.5K

How much do independent contractor heir research jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for independent contractor heir research in the United States is $82,164.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $56,500.00 and $112,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Independent Contractor Heir Research vs Private Investigator?

AspectIndependent Contractor Heir ResearchPrivate Investigator
CredentialsResearch skills, sometimes background checksLicensing, investigative training
Work EnvironmentRemote or client sites, flexible hoursFieldwork, client offices, surveillance
Employer/IndustryLegal, estate planning, private clientsLaw enforcement, private firms, corporate clients

While both roles involve investigation and research, Independent Contractor Heir Research primarily focuses on researching heirs and estate-related information, often working remotely for private clients. Private Investigators conduct broader investigations, including surveillance and background checks, often requiring licensing and fieldwork. Understanding these differences helps clients choose the right professional for their specific needs.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as an independent contractor heir researcher?

To thrive as an Independent Contractor Heir Researcher, a strong background in genealogy, investigative research, and knowledge of probate law is essential, often supplemented by relevant coursework or experience in legal or historical research. Familiarity with online genealogical databases, public records systems, and document analysis tools is typically required. Excellent communication, attention to detail, and persistence are standout soft skills for effectively locating and verifying heirs. These skills ensure accurate identification of heirs and efficient navigation of complex legal and historical information, which are crucial for client trust and successful case resolution.

What is an independent contractor heir researcher?

Independent Contractor Heir Researchers are professionals who specialize in locating missing heirs or beneficiaries for probate attorneys, estate administrators, or individuals. They work independently, often on a contract basis, to track down and verify family members who may be entitled to inherit property or assets. Their work involves genealogical research, public record searches, and sometimes direct outreach to potential heirs. These researchers play a crucial role in the estate settlement process when heirs are unknown or hard to find.

What are common challenges faced by independent contractor heir researchers and how can they be addressed?

Independent Contractor Heir Researchers often face challenges such as locating hard-to-find heirs, verifying complex family relationships, and navigating privacy laws. These tasks require persistence, strong research skills, and careful documentation. Building a reliable network of contacts, staying up-to-date with genealogy tools, and maintaining meticulous records can help overcome these obstacles. Additionally, collaborating with attorneys or estate professionals is essential for ensuring accuracy and legal compliance throughout the research process.
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What cities are hiring for Independent Contractor Heir Research jobs?

Cities with the most Independent Contractor Heir Research job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Heir Research jobs?

The most popular types of Heir Research jobs are:

What states have the most Independent Contractor Heir Research jobs?

States with the most job openings for Independent Contractor Heir Research jobs include:

Infographic showing various Independent Contractor Heir Research job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 87% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $82,164 per year, or $39.5 per hour.

Case Manager - Heir Location & Unclaimed Property

Lauth Investigations International Inc

Boulder, CO โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 16 days ago


Job description

About the Role

The Return Assets Division is seeking a meticulous Case Manager specialized in forensic genealogy, heir location, and asset recovery. This is not an administrative role; it is an investigative position focused on identifying, proving, and recovering dormant assets held by State Unclaimed Property Offices.

As a Case Manager, you will take the lead on complex "decedent accounts"—cases where the original asset owner has passed away, often leaving behind substantial unclaimed funds without a clear path of succession. You will use a combination of deep-dive public records research and advanced OSINT tactics to build exhaustive family lineages. Your primary mission is to construct bulletproof heirship tables and compile the exact documentary chains required by state controllers to prove ownership and successfully release funds.

What You Will Do (The Mission)

● Architect the Lineage: Take ownership of unclaimed property files from initial data discovery through to final state payout, managing the end-to-end estate and kinship investigation.

● Construct Heirship Tables: Research, design, and draft legally binding, court-ready family trees and heirship tables mapping line of descent under varied state intestacy laws.

● Conduct Forensic Genealogy: Pore over historical and modern vital statistics—including birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates, federal census data, probate files, and immigration manifests—to verify kinship.

● Execute Targeted OSINT & Skip-Tracing: Deploy advanced OSINT, social media intelligence (SOCMINT), and proprietary locational databases to track down missing, estranged, or unknown heirs globally and establish contact.

● Build State Claim Packages: Review strict, state-specific evidence requirements to systematically compile identification, probate orders, small estate affidavits, and continuity-of-address proofs.

● Navigate State Audits: Act as the primary liaison with State Unclaimed Property Offices,

Requirements

● Proven Investigative Background: 3+ years of professional experience in forensic genealogy, probate research, heir-finding, title abstracting, or as a paralegal specializing in estate administration.

● Lineage & Intestacy Expertise: Deep, practical familiarity with constructing line-of-descent charts and an understanding of how state intestacy laws govern property distribution.

● Advanced OSINT & Public Records Mastery: Exceptional capability utilizing specialized search engines, public county court portals, historical repositories, and public record aggregators (e.g., LexisNexis, TLO, or Ancestry/FamilySearch institutional tiers).

● Meticulous Document Gathering: A track record of tracking down physical and certified vital records from bureaucratic agencies across multiple state and local jurisdictions.

● Case Rigor: Strong organizational skills to manage dozens of active state claims simultaneously without letting critical deadlines or missing documentation fall through the cracks.

Highly Desirable "Bonus" Skills

● Experience utilizing link-analysis or mind-mapping software to visualize complex, multi-generational family trees.

● Fluency in navigating foreign vital registries for first- and second-generation immigrant asset cases.

Benefits

What We Offer

● Premium Tools & Data Access: Access to tier-one investigative databases, historical archives, public records scraping utilities, and genealogical platforms.

● Operational Autonomy: The independence to build and manage your investigative strategies on a high-volume, high-yield portfolio of claims.

● Competitive Compensation: A stable base salary with a performance-based bonus structure connected to successful claim yields and asset recovery milestones.