Missing People is encouraging all families and professionals with an interest in, or experience of, resolving the affairs of a missing person who is presumed to have died to participate in an inquiry the Justice Select Committee is going to undertake into ‘presumption of death’ legislation in England and Wales. Select Committees are cross-party groups of MPs formally tasked with monitoring the work of a Government department. Missing People is welcoming the Justice Select Committee’s decision to hold this much needed inquiry. It presents a great opportunity for MPs to comprehensively investigate the challenges families face with the current system, and to consider whether reform would be beneficial for both the families using it and public and private sector professionals who work with it.

As it currently stands, Scotland and Northern Ireland both have a Presumption of Death Act. However, England and Wales do not. This means that families living in these nations may have to go to court on a number of occasions to resolve their missing relative’s affairs, using a system which is reportedly confusing, costly and cumbersome at an already emotionally difficult time. Consulting on legal reform was a recommendation of the APPG for Runaway and Missing Children and Adult’s inquiry into support for families of missing people, following a session on presumption of death.

Missing People believes that the presumption of death system in England and Wales must be brought in line with Scotland and Northern Ireland through a Presumption of Death Act. Access to a clear and usable system should not be a postcode lottery; this is a key call of Missing People’s Missing Rights campaign.

To ensure that the Committee hears from a wide range of people with experience of this issue and is able to make effective recommendations, Missing People is urging all families and professionals to make a submission outlining their experience of it.

If you would like to take part in the inquiry, please click here if you are a family, and here if you are a professional  for more information, or e-mail Holly Towell, Missing People’s Policy Advisor, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .