2018 Delaware Code
Title 12 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations
CHAPTER 17. ABSENTEES; PRESUMED DECEDENTS
§ 1701. Presumption of death.
(a) When the death of a person or the date thereof is in issue, the unexplained absence from the last known place of residence and the fact that the person has been unheard of for 7 years may be a sufficient ground for finding that the person died 7 years after the person was last heard of.
(b) The fact that a person was exposed to a specific peril of death may be sufficient ground for finding that the person died less than 7 years after the person was last heard of.
(c) A written finding of missing in action or presumed death made by the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy or other officer or employee of the United States authorized to make such finding pursuant to the Federal Missing Persons Act (37 U.S.C. § 551 et seq.), as now or hereafter amended, or a duly certified copy of such finding shall be received in any court, office or other place in this State as prima facie evidence of the death of the person therein found to be missing in action or dead, and the date, circumstances and place of disappearance.
59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.
