DOCSLIB.ORG

MISSING PERSONS ACT Ss 1-3 CHAPTER 5:14 MISSING PERSONS ACT Acts 2811978, 17/1979 (S, 17),2911981,2011991,2011994 (S 16), S1 85611981

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
MISSING PERSONS ACT Ss 1-3 CHAPTER 5:14 MISSING PERSONS ACT Acts 2811978, 17/1979 (S, 17),2911981,2011991,2011994 (S 16), S1 85611981 IU,) ... , MISSING PERSONS ACT ss 1-3 CHAPTER 5:14 MISSING PERSONS ACT Acts 2811978, 17/1979 (s, 17),2911981,2011991,2011994 (s 16), S1 85611981. ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section I, Short title, 2, Interpretation, 3, Application for order. 4, Holding of inquiry, 5, Making of order, 6, Powers of Master on making of order. 7, Review of order. 8, Appeal against order, 9, Effective date of order, 10, Effect of presumption of death, 11, Cancellation of order for appointment of administrator. 12, Appointment and removal of administrator. 13, Appeal against decision of Master. 14, Powers of administrator. 15, Failure of administrator to lodge accounts. 16, Release of administrator. 17, Reappearance of person presumed dead, 18, Further application for order, 19, Duty of police officers, 20, Witnesses failing to attend or refusing to be sworn or to give evidence, 21, Contempt of court, 22, Regulations, 23, Savings, AN ACT to provide for the presumption of death of a person who is missing, or for the care and administration of the estate of such a person; and to provide for matters incidental to or connected with the foregoing. [Date of commencement: 10th November, 1978,] 1 Short title (a) if the person in respect of whom the order as made This Act may be cited as the Missing Persons Act was ordinarily resident in that part of Zimbabwe de­ [Chapter 5:14]. fined in the First Schedule to the Estates Act, the Master as defined in that Act; 2 Interpretation (b) if the person in respect of whom the order was made (1) In this Act- was ordinarily resident in any part of Zimbabwe "administrator" means an administrator appointed tn other than that defined in the First Schedule to the terms of subsection (3) of section twelve; Estates Act, the assistant Master as defined in that "court" means a magistrates court; Act "Estates Act" means the Administration of Estates Act 3 Application for order [Chapter 6:01]; (1) Any person who wishes to apply for an order in "inquiry" means an inquiry referred to in subsection (1) respect of a missing person shall lodge with the clerk of the of section/our; court of the province in which that person was ordinarily "judge" means ajudge of the High Court; resident immediately before his disappearance an applica­ "magistrate" means a regional magistrate or a provin­ tion in the prescribed form accompanied by such other cial magistrate; documents as may be prescribed. "Minister" means the Minister of Justice, Legal and (2) Where the applicant for an order is not a person who Parliamentary Affairs or any other Minister to whom the is the nearest relative of the missing person, the clerk of the President may, from time to time, assign the administration court shall cause such relative to be notified of the applica­ of this Act; tion. "order" means an order in terms of subsection (I) of (3) Subject to such directions as a magistrate may deem section five; necessary or desirable, the clerk of the court with whom an "Registrar" means the Registrar of the High Court; application has been lodged in terms of subsection (I) shall "Registrar-General" means the Registrar-General of as soon as possible publish at the expense of the applicant a Births and Deaths referred to in section 3 of the Births and notice in the prescribed form- Deaths Registration Act [Chapter 5:02], (a) once in the Gazette and in a newspaper circulating in (2) Any reference in this Act to the Master in connection the area in which the person in respect of whom the with anything done in relation to an order or the appoint­ order is applied for was ordinarily resident; and ment of an administrator or anything else done in pursu­ (b) in such other newspapers as the magistrate may ance of an order shall be deemed to be a reference to-- direct 281 [Chapter 5:14] 8.3-9 MISSING PERSONS ACT (UI (4) A magistrate may give directions in terms of subsec­ (a) by notice in writing require- , ..~~;/ tion (3) that a notice be published in the journals referred to (i) the nearest relative or connection of the person in that subsection such number of times, not exceeding in respect of whom the order was made who is three, as he may specify. available; or 4 Holding of inquiry (ii) any person who resides at the place at which the person in respect of whom the order was (I) If, after considering the documents referred to in made was ordinarily resident immediately be­ subsection (I) of section three, he considers it necessary or fore his disappearance; desirable to do so, a magistrate of the court at which an to furnish him in writing with such information application in terms of that section has been lodged shall, relating to the person who is the subject of the order not less than six weeks after the lodging of the application, or the relatives or property of such person as the hold an inquiry in terms of this section into the circum­ Master may specify in that notice; stances of the disappearance of the missing person: (b) if he considers it necessary or expedient, appoint a Provided that the magistrate may, on good cause shown, curator bonis to take custody and charge of the estate hold an inquiry at any time after publication of the final of the person who is the subject of the order until an notice in terms of subsection (3) of section three. executor or administrator, as the case may be, is ap­ (2) A magistrate may summon any witness to give evi­ pointed and takes the custody and charge thereof. dence at an inquiry by causing a notice in the prescribed (2) The Estates Act shall apply, mutatis mutandis, in form to be served in the manner prescribed on the person relation to a curator bonis appointed in terms of paragraph concerned and- (b) of subsection (I) and to the appointment thereof as they (a) shall require a witness to take an oath or affirmation apply in relation to a curator bonis appointed in terms of in the prescribed form; subsection (I) of section 22 of that Act. (b) may order that a witness be paid the same expenses (3) Any person who fails to furnish the Master with as he would have received had he given evidence in information required in terms of paragraph (a) of subsec­ criminal proceedings before a court. tion (I) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not (3) A magistrate holding an inquiry shall- exceeding one hundred dollars. (a) not be bound by any rules of evidence which relate to civil or criminal proceedings and may, subject to 7 Review of order any regulations, receive any statement by way of af­ (1) The clerk of the court shall, as soon as reasonably fidavit or otherwise from any interested person or possible and in any event not later than twenty-eight days any person who has information relating to the sub­ after the making of an order, forward to the Registrar the ject of the inquiry: record of the inquiry together with such remarks, if any, as Provided that a witness who objects to answering the magistrate may desire to append. any question on the ground that it will tend to in­ (2) The Registrar shall with all convenient speed lay the criminate him shall not be required to answer the papers referred to in subsection (1) before a judge in question or be liable to any penalty for refusing to chambers who may- answer the question; (a) confirm the order; or (b) cause a record of the proceedings of the inquiry to be (b) substitute an order in terms of paragraph (a) of kept. subsection (I) of section six for an order in terms of (4) Section 3 of the Courts and Adjudicating Authori­ paragraph (b) of that subsection or vice versa; or ties(Publicity Restriction) Act [Chapter 7:04] shall apply, (c) set aside the order and remit the matter to the mutatis mutandis, in relation to an inquiry. magistrate with such instructions relative to the fur­ ther proceedings to be had in such matter; or 5 Making of order (d) set aside the order; (I) If at the conclusion of the inquiry the magistrate is as the judge thinks fit and any substituted order in terms of satisfied that the person concerned was ordinarily resident paragraph (b) shall be deemed to be the order of the in the area under the jurisdiction of the court and is- magistrate in terms of paragraph (a) or (b), as the case may (a) dead, he shall make an order presuming the person to be, of subsection (I) of section five. have died; or (b) missing and it is necessary or expedient to do so, he 8 Appeal against order shall make an order declaring that the person is a (1) Any person who is aggrieved by the making or the missing person and authorizing the appointment of refusal of an order may, within one month of the making or an administrator for the care and administration of refusal thereof, appeal to the Supreme Court. his estate. (2) The Supreme Court may, on an appeal in terms of (2) The magistrate may, in making an order in terms of subsection (I), exercise any of the powers set out in paragraph (a) of subsection (I), specify the date or the date subsection (2) of section seven and any order made by the and time of death for the purposes of determining in terms Supreme Court in the exercise of such powers shall be of the law relating to testate or intestate succession the deemed to be the order of the magistrate in terms of persons who shall succeed to the property of the person in paragraph (a) or (b), as the case may be, of subsection (1) respect of whom the order has been made.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Albania, Missing Persons from the Communist Era: a Needs Asssement
    ALBANIA, MISSING PERSONS FROM THE COMMUNIST ERA: A NEEDS ASSSEMENT Distribution: General Sarajevo, 2 March 2021 ICMP.GR.WB.152.6.W.doc Table of Contents ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................................. 3 I. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON MISSING PERSONS (ICMP) ............................................ 4 II. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 4 III. DOMESTIC LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS TO ACCOUNT FOR PERSONS MISSING FROM THE COMMUNIST ERA ........................................................................................................ 5 3.1. Domestic legal instruments .............................................................................................5 3.2. Institutions and Agencies .................................................................................................7 3.3. Civil Society ....................................................................................................................12 IV. EVALUATION ............................................................................................................................... 13 V. RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................................................. 16 This report has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this report are the sole responsibility
    [Show full text]
  • Regulation of 1 March 2005 No. 235 Concerning the Obligations of the Master and Company in the Event That a Criminal Offence O
    Regulation of 1 March 2005 No. 235 concerning the obligations of the master and company in the event that a criminal offence of a serious nature is committed on board ship, and concerning notification of missing persons Laid down by the Norwegian Maritime Directorate 1 March 2005 pursuant to the Seamen’s Act of 30 May 1975 no. 18, section 49 third paragraph, cf. formal delegation of 27 December 1988 no. 4321. Amended 29 June 2007 No. 1006 (i.a. legal basis). § 1 Scope of application The provisions of this Regulation shall apply to cases of suspicions of a criminal offence of a serious nature committed on board a Norwegian ship. This Regulation applies correspondingly in the event that a person on board a ship is missing and there are reasons to believe that the person has drowned or that a suicide has been committed on board. The provisions of this Regulation do not apply to investigation of matters relating to the construction and operation of the ship, including navigation. Amended by Regulation of 29 June 2007 No. 1006. § 2 Exemptions Norwegian Maritime Directorate may, in individual cases and upon written application, grant exemption from the requirements of the Regulation. There must be special reasons that make the exemption necessary and it must be considered safe and proper with regard to the purpose of the regulation. § 3 The master’s obligation to carry out investigations, secure evidence and notify the competent authority In the event of suspicions that a criminal offence of a serious nature has been committed on board a Norwegian ship, the master shall as soon as possible take steps to obtain an overview of the situation in order to determine whether there are grounds to notify Nye Kripos (The New National Bureau of Crime Investigation).
    [Show full text]
  • Fact Sheet | How to Enter Missing Person Records PURPOSE
    U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Chief Information Officer Fact Sheet | How to Enter Missing Person Records PURPOSE A guide for entering missing person records for criminal justice agencies participating in the Tribal Access Program (TAP). NOTE A complete set of instructions for entering missing person records in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) can be found in the NCIC Operating Manual at https://csa.justice.gov/cjismanuals/index.pl (scroll down and select the NCIC icon after navigating to the site). REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ENTERING AGENCY The entering agency must: • Have an active missing person report on file to support an entry in the NCIC Missing Person File, unless the entry is for a victim of a man-made or natural catastrophe in which case no documentation is required. The missing person report can be a report made by a third party or a signed report from the investigating officer, whether signed digitally, electronically, or manually. o If the missing person is 18 years of age or older, the record may be entered in the Missing Person File provided the entering agency has signed documentation in its possession supporting the stated conditions under which the person is declared missing. This documentation (electronic or hard copy) will aid in the protection of the emancipated adult’s privacy. o If the missing person is under the age of 18 years, it is required that agencies enter the missing person record within two hours of the time of receipt of the report per 42 USC 5779(a) and 42 USC 5780(3).
    [Show full text]
  • Presumption of Death: What Happens When an Individual Vanishes from Society?
    G THE B IN EN V C R H E S A N 8 8 D 8 B 1 AR SINCE WWW. NYLJ.COM THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018 Expert Opinion Presumption of Death: What Happens When an Individual Vanishes From Society? By C. Raymond Radigan and dictions, a person was presumed to Jennifer F. Hillman be living for a period of 100 years from the time of their birth. Some ecently, there has been countries later modified this time new attention placed on period by statute. For example, the decades old disappear- one English statute exempted any By And person from penalty for bigamy if ance of Kathleen Durst who C. Raymond Jennifer F. disappeared in 1982. At the Radigan Hillman their spouse had been absent for Rtime of her disappearance, there a period of seven years. A similar was speculation and suspicion According to FBI statistics, English statute provided that par- surrounding her husband Robert 750,000 people are reported miss- ties to leases who were absent for Durst who was from a prominent ing each year in the United States. more than seven years would be New York family. No one has heard USA Today, “By The Numbers: deemed deceased. Today, most from Kathleen Durst in decades, yet Missing Person in the USA.” Some jurisdictions have shortened the she was still considered a missing of these disappearances are linked waiting period by statute and allow person until recently. Earlier this to mass fatalities or national disas- courts to dispense with the time year, the First Department issued ters, while others may be asso- period requirement all together if a decision finding the date of Kath- ciated with possible foul play.
    [Show full text]
  • Missing and Abducted Children: a Law-Enforcement Guide to Case Investigation and Program Management
    Missing and Abducted Children: A Law-Enforcement Guide to Case Investigation and Program Management Missing and Abducted Children: A Law-Enforcement Guide to Case Investigation and Program Management Edited by Stephen E. Steidel Third Edition 2006 National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® Charles B. Wang International Children’s Building 699 Prince Street Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3175 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678) ORI VA007019W This project was supported by Grant No. 2007-MC-CX-K001 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Points of view or opinions in this publication are those of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Copyright © 1994, 1997, 2000, and 2006 by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. All rights reserved. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children®, 1-800-THE-LOST®, CyberTipline®, LOCATERTM, NetSmartz®, and Picture Them Home® are registered trademarks/service marks of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. The publisher is distributing this publication with the understanding that neither it nor the authors are engaged in rendering legal or other professional services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional
    [Show full text]
  • 10 Years of Impunity for Enforced Disappearances and Abductions in Kosovo
    BURYING THE PAST 10 YEARS OF IMPUNITY FOR ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES AND ABDUCTIONS IN KOSOVO Amnesty International is a global movement of 2.2 million people in more than 150 countries and territories who campaign to end grave abuses of human rights. Our vision is for every person to enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. We are independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion – funded mainly by our membership and public donations. Amnesty International Publications First published in 2009 by Amnesty International Publications International Secretariat Peter Benenson House 1 Easton Street London WC1X 0DW United Kingdom www.amnesty.org © Amnesty International Publications 2009 Index: EUR 70/007/2009 Original language: English Printed by Amnesty International, International Secretariat, United Kingdom All rights reserved. This publication is copyright, but may be reproduced by any method without fee for advocacy, campaigning and teaching purposes, but not for resale. The copyright holders request that all such use be registered with them for impact assessment purposes. For copying in any other circumstances, or for re-use in other publications, or for translation or adaptation, prior written permission must be obtained from the publishers, and a fee may be payable. cover photo : Kosovo Albanian relatives of the disappeared demonstrate with photographs of their missing relatives, Pristina, Kosovo. © Courtesy of the Kosovo Government Commission on Missing Persons and Mr Shkelzen Rexha. back cover top : Petrija Piljević, a Serbian woman, abducted in June 1999, with her son. © Private back cover bottom : Daka Asani, a Romani man, abducted in August 1999.
    [Show full text]
  • Managing the Urban Missing Person Search
    Managing the Urban Missing Person Search Searching In the Urban Environment Emergency Response International 319 Olive Street Cashmere, Washington 98815 www.eri-online.com Plan of Instruction for Urban Search - ERI A NEED FOR BOTH TRAINING AND URBAN SEARCH CAPABILITY Search and rescue teams are finding themselves conducting an ever increasing number of searches in urban areas. This is in part due to the increasing demand being placed on the urban law enforcement agencies. It is also in part because of the fastest growing category of missing persons in SAR globally happens to be the dementia category. SAR teams are also conducting more urban training and at the same time, advertising their capabilities in response to a very real need for trained resources to search in urban environments. Without proper planning, this environment can quickly become a “nightmare” for searchers as well as Incident Commanders and overhead team members. OVERVIEW Most people have a vague idea what the term “urban” means, but it is complex to precisely define it when it comes to search. On one end of the spectrum, there is “pure urban nonresidential,” with New York and other city centers being prime examples. Then there is “urban residential” where people in the city actually live. There is also the term “suburban” which can imply densely populated residential areas adjacent to an inner city. Suburban can also imply the urban/rural interface or transition zones on the edge of cities. For our purposes here “urban” will be used to describe urban and suburban areas set totally apart from what would be considered rural or wilderness areas.
    [Show full text]
  • Missing Persons
    Policy Urbana Police Department 318 Urbana PD Policy Manual Missing Persons 318.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE This policy provides guidance for handling missing person investigations. 318.1.1 DEFINITIONS Definitions related to this policy include: High-risk missing person - A person whose whereabouts are not currently known and whose circumstances indicate that the person may be at risk of injury or death. The circumstances that indicate that a person is a high-risk missing person include, but are not limited to, any of the following (50 ILCS 722/10(a)(1)): (a) The person is missing as a result of a stranger abduction. (b) The person is missing under suspicious circumstances. (c) The person is missing under unknown circumstances. (d) The person is missing under known dangerous circumstances. (e) The person is missing more than 30 days. (f) The person has already been designated as a high-risk missing person by another law enforcement agency. (g) There is evidence that the person is at risk because: 1. The person is in need of medical attention or prescription medication. 2. The person does not have a pattern of running away or disappearing. 3. The person may have been abducted by a non-custodial parent. 4. The person is mentally impaired. 5. The person is under the age of 21. 6. The person has been the subject of past threats or acts of violence. 7. The person has eloped from a nursing home. (h) Any other factor that may, in the judgment of the law enforcement official, indicate that the missing person may be at risk.
    [Show full text]
  • Missing Children in the European Union Mapping, Data Collection and Statistics
    Missing children in the European Union Mapping, data collection and statistics Justice Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union. Freephone number (*): 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (*) Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00 800 numbers or these calls may be billed. ECORYS Nederland BV Watermanweg 44 3067 GG Rotterdam T +31 (0)10 453 88 00 F +31 (0)10 453 07 68 E [email protected] W www.ecorys.nl This study has been prepared by Alessandra Cancedda, Laurie Day, Dafina Dimitrova and Martin Gosset, of ECORYS Nederland BV for the European Commission. The information and views set out in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Union. Neither the European Union institutions and bodies nor any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein. Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. European Commission – Directorate-General for Justice More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu). Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication. Luxembourg, Publications Office of the European Union, 2013 ISBN: 978-92-79-28859-3 doi:10.2838/72121 © European Union, 2013 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. Printed in Belgium 1 Executive summary 2 Introduction 7 Study aims and methodology 7 Activities carried out 8 Inception phase 8 Mapping phase 8
    [Show full text]
  • 2019 Missing Children Clearinghouse Annual Report
    ANNUAL REPORT MISSING CHILDREN 2019 CLEARINGHOUSE Zaden McKnight Ashley Norah Lost, injured or missing Endangered runaway Missing since March 26, 2014 Missing since June 1, 2002 From Dayton, Ohio From Columbus, Ohio Went missing at: age 4 Went missing at: age 17 Current age: 10 Current age: 35 Gender: Male Gender: Female Race/Ethnicity: Black Race/Ethnicity: Black Then height: 3’1” Then height: 5’1” Then weight: 95 lbs Then weight: 110 lbs Hair color: Brown Hair color: Brown Eye color: Brown Eye color: Brown Zaden was last seen at home wearing jeans, a Ashley’s ears are pierced and yellow hat, a yellow and blue coat, and red velcro she has a birthmark on the “Lighting McQueen” shoes. Zaden was with his back of her leg. When she was mother, who was recently found dead, a victim last seen, she had braces. of homicide. Age progression If you have any information, contact the Dayton Police Department at 937-333-2677. If you have any information, contact the Columbus Division of Police at 614-645-4545. Anthony Tullius Lost, injured or missing Donnell White Missing since June 4, 2011 Lost, injured or missing From Zanesville, Ohio Missing since Aug. 10, 1991 Went missing at: age 2 From Ashtabula, Ohio Current age: 11 Went missing at: age 14 Gender: Male Current age: 43 Race/Ethnicity: White Gender: Male Then height: 2’2” Race/Ethnicity: Black Then weight: 21 lbs Then height: 5’10” Hair color: Blond Then weight: 160 lbs Eye color: Brown Hair color: Brown Anthony was last seen at a family campsite near Eye color: Brown Ellis Dam in Muskingum county.
    [Show full text]
  • Understanding and Managing Risk in the Context of Missing Persons
    Understanding and Managing Risk in the Context of Missing Persons A decision-making guide to help assess the risk and urgency of a missing person case Includes: Missing Persons Risk Assessment Checklists The European Child Rescue Alert & Police Network on Missing Children As supported by European Parliament WD 7/2016 Written by Charlie Hedges. In consultation with missing children law enforcement experts from Canada, The Netherlands, Czech Republic, Italy, Ireland, Romania, Poland, Switzerland. AMBER Alert Europe Rondpoint Robert Schuman 9 1040 Brussels Belgium Peter Treckpoelstraat 4 6191 VK Beek The Netherlands Phone: +32 2 808 2159 Fax: +32 2 808 216 Email: [email protected] Website: www.amberalert.eu AMBER Alert Europe is registered in the EU Transparency register: 488692317424-44 and is recognized by the Dutch government as foundation (stichting) with charitable status (“ANBI”) RSIN: 852414183 Brussels, January 23rd 2017 © AMBER Alert Europe - All rights reserved (including those of translation into foreign languages). No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form – by photoprint, microfilm, or any other means – or transmitted or translated into a machine language without written permission form the publisher or the authors. The information contained in this publication may not be reproduced and distributed without written permission from the authors. Reproduction strictly for use within the police services is allowed by informing us by email: [email protected] 2 © AMBER Alert Europe Contents Preface 1. Introduction 2. Assessing risk 3. Tools to assist the investigator 4. Key principles of risk triage 5. Patterns of behaviour and indicators 6. Risk and the investigative process 7.
    [Show full text]
  • Legal Presumption of Death When a Person Has Been Missing for Several Years, His Or Her Family Is Left in Limbo. Depending Upon
    Pitfallsand Legalities 161 Legal Presumption of Death When a person has been missing for several years, his or her family is left in limbo. Depending upon the circumstances of the person's disappearance, it may be time to face the possibility that the person is deceased. As noted in chapter 6, "Celeste's Sister Sara: Found Alive in Mexico," after years of searching for her sister's remains, Celeste stated, "At some point I had to stop and just admit that maybe Sara was in Mexico and fell off a cliff." Celeste was, in fact, in the process of obtaining the final document she needed for her sister's legal Presumption of Death when she received word that Sara had been found alive. Also see chapter 6 for more on guardianship of the mentally ill. A medical examiner/coroner must issue a death certificate for the long­ term missing person in order for his or her family to collect on life insurance policies, to remarry, and to settle legal issues such as disposition of property. The certificate will not be issued without a Presumptive Death being estab­ lished first by a formal legal proceeding which can only be commenced after a period of years that varies from state to state. This proceeding requires submission of evidence to a court of all efforts to locate the missing person.5 Another advantage of the court order and the death certificate is the ability for family members to file for survivors' benefits with the Social Security Administration. According to Administration policy, families are urged to file a claim shortly before a person has been missing for seven years.
    [Show full text]