Civil Law (Missing Persons) Bill 2013

Public bill · Private Member · Introduced

The proposal would let a court appoint someone to manage a missing person’s property—such as paying bills or mortgage repayments—after reasonable searches and at least 90 days without contact. It would also create a clear process for declaring someone presumed dead where death is virtually certain or highly probable, allowing assets and insurance to be dealt with and a marriage or civil partnership to end, without always waiting seven years. If the person returns, they could ask the court to change the arrangements, while protections would apply to people who had received property in good faith.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to provide for the effects in civil law of persons who are missing, including arrangements for interim management of the missing person's property, and to provide for the civil status of the missing person where the circumstances of their absence leads to a presumption of death; and to provide for related matters

Last updated 18 April 2018