Are you the missing Hungarian heir to a fortune from Canada? Lawyers are looking for the answer

It sounds like the plot of a movie, yet it is a very real legal case touching two continents. A Canadian law firm is searching for a Hungarian woman who may be entitled to a substantial inheritance left behind by a relative who emigrated to Canada decades ago.

Somebody’s ancestor in Canada prepared a will

The story begins in Brantford, Ontario, where Helen Molnar – or in Hungarian, known as Molnár Helén – passed away on 3 February 2023. Having outlived both her husband and her only child, she had taken care to prepare a will some ten years earlier, outlining how her estate should be distributed.

However, time complicated matters. Her husband, Zsolt Molnár, named as the primary heir, died in 2020, seven years after the will was written. Their daughter, Jean Anne, had already died in 2012. While the document appointed Helen Molnar’s son-in-law as executor, with her grandchildren as backups, the will also included an unexpected fourth beneficiary: a woman living in Hungary.

Who is the heir then?

As Blikk writes, that woman is believed to be Zsolt Molnár’s sister, named Kata Kovács, who would be entitled to an equal share of the estate. According to the Canadian probate lawyer handling the case, Kimberly Gale, very little is known about her beyond her name, family connection and the assumption that she may live in Budapest. It is also believed she is older than her late brother.

Because all reasonable efforts must be made to locate beneficiaries, the law firm has turned to the media in the hope that either Kovács herself, or someone with information about her whereabouts, will come forward.

The inheritance is valued at just under CAD 100,000, roughly HUF 23 million, and must be claimed by 1 March 2026. If no eligible heir is found by then, the share may be forfeited under Canadian law.

In this case, the laws of Canada apply

In cross-border inheritance cases such as this, the law of the deceased’s last place of residence applies – in this case, Ontario, Canada. However, Hungarian inheritance principles are also relevant. If Kata Kovács is no longer alive, her descendants may still be entitled to her share through legal substitution.

Legal experts advise anyone who believes they may be connected to the case to proceed cautiously, gather proper documentation proving family ties, and contact only verified legal representatives to avoid potential scams.