By Johanna Lines, Marketing & Business Development Manager, Fraser and Fraser
May 2013 marks
an important milestone in Fraser & Fraser’s long history. As we celebrate our 90th year, it
seems fitting to take a look back at how our business has evolved to meet the
ever changing needs of this industry while at the same time continuing to
deliver the high standards demanded by the legal professionals we support.
In 1923, Gertrude Christensen, great aunt of
today’s working partners, took the ambitious step of founding her own firm. Due
to her experience, employed as an Outdoor Clerk carrying out genealogical research
for a law firm, she was confident that through using her tried and tested
methods, she had the expertise needed to support lawyers in their work. In
1969, a new partnership was formed with her nephews, Nathan and Simon Fraser,
at the helm. Under their management, Fraser & Fraser continued to lead the
way in probate research in the face of an ever changing society. Increasing
divorce rates, emigration, immigration and population growth all made searching
for missing beneficiaries more of a challenge, and together they grew the
firm’s expertise to overcome these obstacles.
Since 2007, the firm has been managed by the latest
generation of Frasers: Andrew, Charles and Neil. Like previous generations, these current
partners are forward thinking and share their family’s passion for research,
but they also bring with them the technical knowledge needed in looking for new
and innovative research solutions. These solutions mean that we can research
more effectively at greater speed than ever before, and this technology is just
one of the ways we ensure we stay ahead of the competition.
There is no doubt that the internet and increased
media coverage have contributed to revolutionising the world of genealogy. TV
programmes such as Heir Hunters and
genealogy websites that allow users to research their own family trees are
extremely popular. This technology is essential in helping us to reduce costs,
speed up the search process and increase communication, but these factors have
also led to an increase in small, amateur probate research firms arriving on
the scene. Experience has shown us how important it is for solicitors to be able
to choose a firm that they can trust and have confidence in.
We have built up a network of European offices and
relationships with other leading genealogists worldwide, which we continue to grow
and advance to this day, with the aim of enhancing both the service we provide
and the reach of our research. In developing our now vast portfolio of services
we have worked with specialist firms such as Landmark and property companies. These
services help us to better support our clients by ensuring we are able to
support in all aspects of estate administration and not only the research for
which we are best recognised.
Despite many changes in this field over the last
90 years, some things have stayed the same. We have upheld the Fraser family’s
vision by offering dedicated support to probate professionals in the UK and
overseas and we continue to grow, but the firm still remains in the hands of
the family that started it up in 1923. At the grand age of 90, Fraser &
Fraser are proud to say that we continue with the same values and aims forged
by Gertrude all those years ago: to be
and always be a trusted and reliable partner to the legal profession.
For more information about Fraser & Fraser and
our services, visit our website: www.fraserandfraser.co.uk
Or contact us to discuss how we can help you:
Email: legal@fraserandfraser.co.uk Tel: 020 7832 1430
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