California · Evidence Code
EVID §667: A person not heard from in five years is presumed to be dead.
What this law says, in plain English
A person missing and unheard from for five years is legally presumed dead. This is a civil presumption, not a criminal offense.
Read the full statutory text
A person not heard from in five years is presumed to be dead.
Verify at the official source: California legislative text
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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.