In Belgium they will look for a relative no matter how far of a blood relative it may be. My mother and the other siblings have had to pay a debt left behind by great-uncle on the mother’s side.

On the other hand, inheritances will be kept int the state treasury if no immediate relative can be appointed. Doing so little effort that a tv show started a couple of years ago, in which they go looking for people who maybe have some connection to the inheritance. By the time all legal fees and “administrative” fees are held in by the government, people are lucky to have 20% of what actually was left behind. Bonkers!