The Civil Procedure Rules 1998

[F1[F2Death of the missing personE+W

57.33.(1) If the missing person has died before or dies after the issue of the claim then, subject to any order of the court, the claim shall not abate or be stayed, and rule [F319.12] shall not apply.

(2) If the claimant considers that there is real doubt as to whether the missing person is still alive, the claim form may incorporate claims under both the Presumption of Death Act 2013 (“the 2013 Act”) and the 2017 Act.

(3) If the court determines at any point in the claim that the missing person has not been known to be alive for a period of seven years whether before or after the issue of the claim, the court may order that the claim should continue as if it had been brought under the 2013 Act.

(4) The court may make an order under or in relation to paragraphs (2) and (3) on such terms and conditions and with such consequential provisions as it considers appropriate.]]