Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-110
§1512 Effect on State Law
Title 10 › Subtitle A — General Military Law › PART II — PERSONNEL › CHAPTER 76 — MISSING PERSONS › § 1512
Summary
The federal law here does not take away a State's or its local courts' or government agencies' power to declare someone dead for state or local purposes. "State" means the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession of the United States.
Full Legal Text
Title 10, §1512
Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Nonpreemption of State Authority.—
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to invalidate or limit the power of any State court or administrative entity, or the power of any court or administrative entity of any political subdivision thereof, to find or declare a person dead for purposes of such State or political subdivision.
(b)State Defined.—
In this section, the term “State” includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession of the United States.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
10 U.S.C. § 1512
Title 10, Armed Forces
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110