Legal Definitions - common disaster

A common disaster is an event that occurs when two or more people with related property interests, such as an insured person and their beneficiary, die at almost the same time, and it is impossible to determine who died first.

For example, a husband and wife may die in a car accident, and it is unclear who died first. In such a case, the Uniform Simultaneous Death Act may be applied to determine how their property will be distributed.

Another example is when a group of people die in a natural disaster, such as an earthquake or a hurricane. In such cases, it may be impossible to determine who died first, and the law may have to be applied to distribute their property.

These examples illustrate how a common disaster can create legal complications when it comes to distributing property. The law has provisions to deal with such situations, but it is always best to have a clear and updated estate plan to avoid any confusion or disputes.