presumption of death
Declared dead legally
Presumption of death is a legal determination that a missing person is dead, made without direct evidence of death.
Courts grant this status after prolonged absence—typically seven years—allowing families to settle estates, collect insurance, or remarry.
After seven years with no contact, the court issued a presumption of death.
The presumed dead person who reappears creates complex legal tangles.
- filing proceduresMethods for organizing documents
- disappearanceAct of going missing
- cold caseUnsolved crime, investigation suspended
- lost at seaMissing in ocean waters
- waiting periodRequired delay before proceeding
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