Important Legal Definitions
Explore legal terms, clear definitions and practical examples.
Presumption of Death (Section 108 IEA / Section 111 BSA)
Evidentiary Rules & Proof Standards
Definition
A statutory rule providing that when a person has not been heard of for seven years by those who would naturally have heard of them had they been alive, the law presumes that the person is dead.
Example
A spouse whose partner disappeared during a coastal flood seven years ago and has not contacted any relatives files a civil suit for succession; the civil court invokes Section 108 IEA to declare the missing person legally dead.