034: Hidden Assets and Missing Heirs with M. Jason Ross 

 Probate Notes: Your Guide to Navigating California Probate Law

March 03, 2026 | 40 min 57 sec

Episode Description


Ever wonder how professional fiduciaries play detective to track down heirs and uncover hidden assets? In this episode, Sam sits down with M. Jason Ross, a licensed professional fiduciary with Kaalund Professional Fiduciary and Trustee Services, to break down the investigative side of probate administration. From using tools like Spokeo to cross-search social media platforms, to pulling six months of pre-death bank statements, Jason shares the real-world strategies that surface assets most people never think to look for.

Jason also covers unclaimed property searches, including one case where a simple search turned up nearly $70,000, and how insurance policy locators can identify policies even when beneficiaries don't know which company holds them.

If probate asset searches have ever left you feeling lost, this episode is your roadmap.

In this episode, you will hear:

  • How professional fiduciaries use tools like Spokeo to locate missing heirs across social media platforms
  • Why online directories and public records searches work best with more than just a name
  • Pulling six months of pre-death bank statements to uncover unknown accounts and financial activity
  • Using payment apps like Venmo as a trail to identify family members and financial relationships
  • How unclaimed property searches can yield surprising results — sometimes tens of thousands of dollars
  • The insurance policy locator, as a tool for finding life insurance and annuities beneficiaries, didn't exist
Resources from this Episode

Website: kaalundfiduciary.com

The 6-Stage Probate Process - How to Navigate California Probate

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