MOSTLY DEAD: DISAPPEARANCE AND THE PRESUMPTION OF DEATH

MOSTLY DEAD: DISAPPEARANCE AND THE PRESUMPTION OF DEATH

STEVE M. KING Judge

Tarrant County Probate Court Number One Fort Worth, Texas

State Bar of Texas 37th ANNUAL ADVANCED ESTATE PLANNING AND PROBATE COURSE

June 26-28, 2013 Houston

CHAPTER 31

Mostly Dead: Disappearance and the Presumption of Death TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 31

I. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................1 Scope Note..........................................................................................................................................1

II. GONE MISSING.......................................................................................................................................1 A. Analyze and Investigate ....................................................................................................................1 1. ABOUT THE PERSON ................................................................................................................1 2. MISSING PERSON REPORT......................................................................................................1 3. INVESTIGATE.............................................................................................................................1 4. AMBER ALERT...........................................................................................................................2 5. SILVER ALERT ...........................................................................................................................3 6. TXDPS MISSING PERSONS ON-LINE BULLETIN.................................................................3 7. MEDIC ALERT + SAFE RETURN? ..........................................................................................4 8. ELECTRONIC ASSISTANCE.....................................................................................................4 B. Property Management ......................................................................................................................4 1. MANAGEMENT OF MARITAL PROPERTY UNDER UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES ......4 2. SALE OF HOMESTEAD UNDER UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES ........................................5 3. RECEIVERSHIPS FOR MISSING PERSONS............................................................................5

III. DETERMINATION OF DEATH AND ADMINISTRATION ...........................................................8 A. Preliminary Considerations .............................................................................................................8 B. The Presumption of Death................................................................................................................9 EARLY CASES - TEXAS ...........................................................................................................9 C. Administration with the Presumption of Death? A Non-Starter..................................................9 1. EARLY CASES ? U. S. SUPREME COURT ..............................................................................9 2. LEGISLATIVE REPONSE ..........................................................................................................9 3. REQUIRED DUE PROCESS SAFEGUARDS ............................................................................9 D. Administration in Absence of Direct Evidence of Death - The "Modern" Approach ................9 1. DERIVATION OF TEX. PROB. CODE ? 72 ..............................................................................9 2. PROBATE PROCEEDINGS OF A LIVING PERSON VOID ..................................................10 3. DUE PROCESS AND JURISDICTION..................................................................................... 10 4. CASELAW? GOOD LUCK! ...................................................................................................... 10 5. PROCEDURAL FEATURES ..................................................................................................... 10 E. Indulging the Presumption of Death: Collection of Non-Probate Assets ................................... 13 1. LEGAL PRESUMPTION OF DEATH ...................................................................................... 13 2. ORIGINS..................................................................................................................................... 13 3. DEARTH OF CASELAW .......................................................................................................... 13 4. ARMED SERVICES CERTIFICATE OF DEATH ................................................................... 13 5. RESTORATION OF ESTATE ................................................................................................... 13 6. TROUBLING UNANSWERED QUESTION ............................................................................ 13 F. Divorce or Bigamy?......................................................................................................................... 13 G. Social Security Survivor's Benefits................................................................................................ 14 H. Federal Employees .......................................................................................................................... 14 APPENDICES: A. Investigator's Checklist ..................................................................................................................15 B. 7 Tracking Devices for Wandering Protection ..............................................................................16 C. iPhone Apps to Track a Lost iPhone or iPhone User.....................................................................17 D. Texas Probate Code ? 72 ...............................................................................................................18 E. Texas Estates Code (counterpart to Tex. Prob. Code ?72) ............................................................19 F. Application to Probate Will & for Letters of Administration WWA Pursuant To ?72, TPC ........20 G. Proof of Death and Other Facts......................................................................................................21

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Mostly Dead: Disappearance and the Presumption of Death

Chapter 31

H. Order Admitting Will and Granting Letters of Administration WWA Pursuant To ?72, TPC ..... 22 I. Original Petition Pursuant To CP&RC, Chap 133 to Establish Presumption of Death ................. 23 J. Original Petition for Declaratory Judgment ? Another Form ........................................................ 25 K. Judgment Declaring Death.............................................................................................................26 L. Declaratory Judgment - Another Form ..........................................................................................27 M. Application for Probate of Will as a Muniment of Title (Presumption of Death) .........................28 N. Order Admitting Will to Probate as a Muniment of Title (Presumption of Death) .......................29

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