Legal Definitions - seven-years'-absence rule

The seven-years'-absence rule is a legal principle that states that if a person has been missing for at least seven years without any explanation, they are presumed to be dead. This rule is also known as the Enoch Arden Law.

John went missing in 2014 and was never found. His family searched for him for years, but there was no trace of him. In 2021, after seven years of his disappearance, John's family can legally presume him dead under the seven-years'-absence rule.

Another example is if a person goes missing during a natural disaster, and there is no information about their whereabouts for seven years, they can be presumed dead under this rule.

These examples illustrate how the seven-years'-absence rule works. It provides a legal framework for families to deal with the uncertainty of a missing loved one and allows them to move on with their lives after a certain period of time.