If a noble, heir-less landowner went missing in Victorian England (~1880s), what would happen to their estate, investments, funds, etc. as a result?

by delicious_downvotes

I originally posted this question over at /r/HistoricalWhatIf, but they seemed to think it was more appropriate here!

Please allow me to elaborate... I'm writing a story, and I'm having trouble in this area of research because it's such a specific situation.

Let's say this person is an aristocratic female, widowed in Victorian England (~1870s/1880s). She inherits everything from her husband (property, money, businesses/whatever they're invested in), but has no children. If she goes missing for a long time, what happens to all that property? Could a rumor that this person was "mad" affect the fate of the property? Could living relatives (mothers, uncles, the husband's family, etc.) take back whatever the widow inherited? Is it seized by the state?

This woman cannot be proved dead, but is also nowhere to be found.

Thank you for your time! :D

conceptcbf

It would have been handled the same way it is now, under the principle of bona vacantia (ownerless goods).

This gives a short overview of the Treasure Solicitors's Department of the UK government ,which was officially founded in 1876.

The Bona Vacantia Division claims to be the oldest part of the Department

I'm not sure how your character being missing, and not dead, would affect her case however if she was presumed dead her assets would have been taken by the crown, who would then seek an heir. If none could be found then the estates would be sold and the balance transferred to HM treasury.