Govt to amend law so disaster missing persons can be declared dead sooner
Summary
The government is preparing to shorten the 12-year legal waiting period for declaring people dead after they go missing in disasters. The proposed ordinance is expected to help families access relief, insurance, inheritance and other legal procedures sooner.
Key Points
- The Cabinet has decided to recommend an ordinance to amend disaster-related laws and shorten the waiting period for declaring missing persons dead.
- Under current law, a missing person cannot be legally declared dead until 12 years have passed since disappearance.
- The proposed change is meant to ease legal and financial burdens on families seeking relief, insurance claims and inheritance settlements.
- The Cabinet also recommended ordinances to amend certain land and forest laws.
