What ownerless property is

Ownerless property is split into three categories in Scotland:

• ownerless goods (also known as 'bona vacantia') – including the property of dissolved companies, missing owners or property to which no title can be traced
• no heir (also known as 'ultimus haeres') – an estate of someone who has died without a will and without any known or traced relatives
• historical items (also known as 'treasure trove') – antiquities found in the ground by:
  • metal detecting
  • chance discovery
  • organised archaeological excavations

The King's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer is the relevant authority for these areas in Scotland.