Share in fortune awaits Domingo Correa’s heirs

Press, 5 September 1981, Page 4

Share in fortune awaits Domingo Correa’s heirs

NZPA-Reuter Buenos Aires Lawyers seek an estimated 7500 heirs of the' "South American Croesus," Domingo Faustino Correa, who died last century leaving behind a fortune worth today more than $7200 million. The rich landowner, who died in • Brazil without any direct heir, left behind a bizarre will which laid down that his wealth would not be shared out among the descendants of his eight brothers until the fourth generation. Dr Hector • Manuel Lerna, the Buenos Aires lawyer responsible for finding heirs in Argentina, noted: “We have already reached the seventh generation and not a single

heir has received one centissimo.” Strangely enough advertisements published in the South American press have not caused a flood of callers and letters from alleged heirs. Only a few of them have ,• gone to his office. But according to Dr Lerna there must be an estimated 7500 heirs scattered about in five South American countries — Argentina. Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Advertisements about the extraordinary inheritance have been published simultaneously in the national newspapers of the five countries. “There must be hundreds

of heirs of Mr Correa in the , world w’hose names are Garcia. Martinez, or Gomez who just do not know that there is a share of SUS6OOO million for them.” He and his colleagues in La Paz. Rio de Janeiro. Asuncion, and Montevideo will have to turn over details of claimants to genealogists who will then have to hunt back into the family history of D. F. Correa to check identities. This could take several years. Mr Correa was an Argentinian adventurer who emigrated to Brazil about 1850. Towards the end of his life he owned vast tracts of land in northern Argentina and southern Brazil, including 80 Sir cent of the state of Rio rande.

But the actual limits of his possessions have never been clear!v worked out. According to Dr Lema. “we calculate that the inheritance totals well over SUS6OOO million because the heirs, once they have established their claims, can demand from respective state and central Governments compensation for buildings they have built on Correa land in the last 100 years or so.” Dr Lema does not think that he and his colleagues will be able to compile a list of possible claimants until March or April next year at the earliest. Is there 'anybody named Correa reading this?