MISSING PERSONS

MCL ch. 720, subtit. Act 44 of 1947

in effect

MCL 720.501 Missing persons; finding of presumed death; prima facie evidence.

720.501. Missing persons; finding of presumed death; prima facie evidence. Sec. 1. A written finding of presumed death, made by the secretary of war, the secretary of the navy, or other officer or employee of the United States authorized to make such finding, pursuant to the federal missing persons act (56 Stat. 143, 1092, and 58 Stat. 679; 50 U.S.C. App. 1001-17), as now or hereafter amended or supplemented, or a duly certified copy of such finding, shall be received in any court, office or other place in this state as prima facie evidence of the death of the person therein found to be dead, and the date, circumstances and place of his disappearance. 1947, Act 44, Eff. Oct. 11, 1947; CL 1948, 720.501

MCL 720.502 Missing, interned or captive persons; report, prima facie evidence.

720.502. Missing, interned or captive persons; report, prima facie evidence. Sec. 2. An official written report or record, or duly certified copy thereof, that a person is missing, missing in action, interned in a neutral country, or beleaguered, besieged or captured by an enemy, or is dead, or is alive, made by any officer or employee of the United States authorized by the act referred to in section 1 or by any other law of the United States to make same, shall be received in any court, office or other place in this state as prima facie evidence that such person is missing, missing in action, interned in a neutral country, or beleaguered, besieged or captured by an enemy, or is dead, or is alive, as the case may be. 1947, Act 44, Eff. Oct. 11, 1947; CL 1948, 720.502

MCL 720.503 Findings, reports and records; signature of federal officer deemed evidence of authority; certified copy.

720.503. Findings, reports and records; signature of federal officer deemed evidence of authority; certified copy. Sec. 3. For the purposes of sections 1 and 2 of this act any finding, report or record, or duly certified copy thereof, purporting to have been signed by such an officer or employee of the United States as is described in said sections, shall prima facie be deemed to have been signed and issued by such an officer or employee pursuant to law, and the person signing same shall prima facie be deemed to have acted within the scope of his authority. If a copy purports to have been certified by a person authorized by law to certify the same, such certified copy shall be prima facie evidence of his authority so to certify. 1947, Act 44, Eff. Oct. 11, 1947; CL 1948, 720.503

Source: Michigan Legislature (legislature.mi.gov)URL: https://legislature.mi.gov/documents/mcl/Chapter%20720.xmlFetched: 10/20/2026