2006 New York Code - Certificates Of Service.

 
    § 321. Certificates of service.  1. In any proceeding under this act a
  certificate  executed by an officer of the applicable force of the armed
  forces of the United States or by an officer of the applicable force  of
  the  organized  militia shall, when produced, be prima facie evidence of
  the facts therein certified and of the authority of the signer to  issue
  the same.
    2.  When  a  person  in  military service has been reported missing he
  shall be presumed to continue in such service until accounted  for,  and
  no  period  herein  limited  which begins or ends with the death of such
  person shall begin or end until the death of  such  person  is  in  fact
  reported to or proved by the applicable force of the armed forces of the
  United States or of the organized militia, or until such death is proved
  by  a  court  of competent jurisdiction; provided, that no period herein
  limited which begins or ends with the death  of  such  person  shall  be
  extended  beyond  a  period  of  six months after the time when this act
  ceases to be in force.