The High Court in the United Kingdom declared Lord Lucan officially dead in 1999; but does that make him completely dead in all instances?
A nanny employed by the 7th Earl of Lucan was found murdered at the Lord's home in 1974. The Lord's wife was found severely beaten and his car was found bloodstained and abandoned. The Lord was convicted of the murder and has been a fugitive ever since.
Over the years there have been numerous reported sightings. In 1999 the High Court declared Lord Lucan officially dead.
The court's declaration allowed property to go to heirs and let his family get on with their lives.
However, it did not allow for Lord Lucan's son to inherit the title and become the 8th Earl of Lucan.
The Mirror reports in "Lord Lucan death certificate bid faces last minute legal challenge from son of murdered nanny" that the son has submitted an application to have his father declared "presumed dead," which would allow him to inherit the title of nobility.
As the headline suggests the nanny's son is asking that Lord Lucan not be declared presumed dead.
In the United States, we do not have to deal with titles of inheritance and the estate headaches that they can bring. On the other hand, we do sometimes have to deal with missing persons and when they can be declared deceased for other estate purposes.
Perhaps an attorney should be consulted if you have a relative who has been missing for a long time and you are considering an effort to declare them deceased.