Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-102
§1716 Presumption of Death or Detention
Title 42 › CHAPTER 12 — COMPENSATION FOR INJURY, DEATH, OR DETENTION OF EMPLOYEES OF CONTRACTORS WITH UNITED STATES OUTSIDE UNITED STATES › SUBCHAPTER II — MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › § 1716
Summary
Officials may declare someone dead or captured if their disappearance makes that likely.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §1716
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
A determination that an individual is dead or a determination that he has been detained by a hostile force or person may be made on the basis of evidence that he has disappeared under circumstances such as to make such death or detention appear probable.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1958—Pub. L. 85–608 substituted “a hostile force or person” for “the enemy”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1958 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 85–608 effective June 30, 1958, see section 402 of Pub. L. 85–608, set out as a note under section 1651 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 1716
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102