Uniform absence as evidence of death and absentee’s property act; insurance policy provisions invalid
Wis. Stat. § 813.22
in effect(1) No provision concerning the effect to be given to evidence of absence or of death in any policy of life or accident insurance or in the charter or bylaws of any mutual or fraternal insurance association hereafter executed or adopted, shall be valid.
(2) When any such policy, charter or bylaws hereafter executed or adopted contains a provision requiring a beneficiary to bring suit upon a claim of death within one year or other period after the death of the insured, and the fact of the absence of the insured is relied upon by the beneficiary as evidence of the death, the action may be begun, notwithstanding such provision in the policy or charter or bylaws, at any time within the statutory period of limitation for actions on contracts in writing dating from the date of the giving of written notice of such absence to the insurer, which notice shall be given within one year from the date when the beneficiary last heard of the absent insured. If such notice is not given then the statutory period runs from the time when the absent person was last heard of by the beneficiary.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/813.22Fetched: 10/7/2026