Heir Advances and Heir Search Firms.

There are companies out there that will advance money to heirs (folks about to receive money from an estate) before the estate is ready to close and the funds distributed.

Google "advancing money to heirs" to see a slew of companies offering this service. Generally it is not a good thing -- they charge money to advance you money. And most inheritances are not expected as no one really knows when someone will die and since when did it become an emergency to get that money that you are expecting from your great Aunt's estate?

But here is a funny joke:

What do these firms call it when the potential client does not engage them? A bad heir day.

And there are also firms out there that will help attorneys and others locate missing heirs. Google "missing heir" or "heir locator" to get an idea.

And the bad jokes for these guys, too:  If they don't find the heir, an heir not apparent or if they find him but then lose track of him, heir today, gone tomorrow.