How we can help Families and friends Family Guidance Legal and Financial Considerations
| Legal and Financial Considerations |
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Depending on the missing person’s circumstances, they may leave behind financial and legal matters which need attending to. This can include their banking, insurance, mortgages, benefits payments or pension. Some families attempt to maintain these so that their loved one’s affairs will be in order should they return. Others do so because they share assets or debts with their missing relative, such as a mortgage, or depend on them financially. Looking into a loved one’s financial affairs, and thinking about the impacts these may have on family left behind, can be daunting whilst coping with the worry of having a missing relative. Whilst there is currently little in place by way of legislation to guide how these practical matters should be handled, the advice below outlines what provisions are available and where support can be found. Depending on the circumstances of the disappearance, or the duration of the case, families may be looking to either manage their relative’s affairs, or resolve them conclusively; the sections below are split in relation to each of these situations. Managing a missing relative’s affairs In the weeks or months following a disappearance, families may wish to manage a missing relative’s affairs so that they are kept in order should they return. This section outlines the areas families most often contact Missing People for advice. ‘Banking’ ‘Mortgages’ ‘Life Insurance’ ‘Insurance’ ‘Benefits’ information coming soon.
Resolving a missing relative’s affairs If a relative has been missing for some time, or there are circumstances that suggest the missing person is likely to have died, some families look to resolve their relative’s affairs and administer their estate. This is known as presumption of death. This section explores how families can access presumption of death provisions. As the law in this area differs across the United Kingdom, there is separate guidance for families in accordance to where they live. You may not need to wait seven years to access these provisions, so you may wish to read this guidance now.
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