Abstract: A computer assisted method includes selecting a sample of accounts from a historical database of accounts corresponding to deceased debtors, The sample indicates whether or not an estate was found for each deceased debtor. A comprehensive set of credit related variables corresponding to the accounts is obtained from a first source. A comprehensive set of demographic related variables corresponding to the accounts is obtained from a second source. The variables are mapped to the accounts and a computer executable model is created by identifying a subset of variables from the sets of variables and using the subset of variables and sample of accounts such that the model provides a prediction of whether or not an estate exists for a given deceased debtor.