§ 5701. Proof of death
Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated StatutesTitle 20 Pa.C.S.A. Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries
20 Pa.C.S.A. § 5701
§ 5701. Proof of death
(a) Finding of death.--When a person domiciled in the Commonwealth disappears and is absent from his place of residence without being heard of after diligent inquiry, the court of the county where he last resided, aided by the report of a master if necessary, upon the petition of any party in interest, and, if a trustee has been appointed for the absentee, at any time during the trusteeship, may make a finding and decree that the absentee is dead and of the date of his death, provided the notice required by section 5704 (relating to notice to absentee) has been given to the absentee.
(b) Presumption from absence.--When the death of a person or the date thereof is in issue, his unexplained absence from his last known place of residence and the fact that he has been unheard of for seven years may be a sufficient ground for finding that he died seven years after he was last heard of.
(e) Distribution of estate or trust.--If the continued existence of an absentee would affect the distribution of an estate or trust, the court having jurisdiction of the estate or trust may, for purposes of distribution of that estate or trust, make a finding and decree of death, as provided in this section, regardless of where the absentee was domiciled or last resided.
Credits
1972, June 30, P.L. 508, No. 164, § 2, eff. July 1, 1972. Amended 1976, July 9, P.L. 551, No. 135, § 20, imd. effective.
20 Pa.C.S.A. § 5701, PA ST 20 Pa.C.S.A. § 5701
Current through Act 10 of the 2024 Regular Session. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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