For whom the bell tolls

Standing under the Presumption of Death Act 2013

by Mathew Roper

Re Fisher [2023] EWHC 979 (Ch) is the latest of a limited number of reported judgments on the application of the Presumption of Death Act 2013 ("the Act") and the only reported decision of which the writer is aware on the standing of those other than spouses, civil partners, parents, children or siblings to apply for a declaration that a missing person is presumed to be dead on the basis that they have a "sufficient interest in the determination of the application" (section 1(5)(b) of the Act).