In addition to there being more people who are older, who live on their own and who don’t prepare a will, a rise in property prices has inflated the prices of land and other assets of the deceased. These factors have pushed up the value of such assets.

People with knowledge will just take advantage of the ignorant peasants.

Plenty of scope for heir hunters.

Inheritance Tax has a lot to do with the inflated prices. My girlfriend Father was going to have the same problem. They avoid the tax by selling his father house while he was still alive and hence avoids paying a inheritance tax.