New proposals to give extra help to families of missing people are a step forward, Labour’s Islwyn MP Chris Evans has said.
Justice Minister Helen Grant recently announced proposals to create a new power of ‘guardianship’ for relatives of missing people which would allow families to deal with legal and financial issues in the initial months after a disappearance.
Mr Evans has been a long-standing campaigner for a Presumption of Death Act and has campaigned alongside Rachel Elias, sister of missing Blackwood musician Richey Edwards of the Manic Street Preachers.
He also co-chaired the UK’s first parliamentary inquiry into the issues faced by families of missing people in 2011.
Welcoming the news, he said: “Without a death certificate, relatives of missing people are unable to administer their estate, claim life insurance or mortgage their house.
“New ‘guardianship’ laws could help families of missing people manage the financial and property affairs of a loved one and help them face the bureaucratic nightmare which can add enormously to the emotional distress of losing a family member.
“I urged the Justice Committee to investigate the issues surrounding missing people in 2011 and these proposals are another step forward for families of missing people.”
Announcing the proposals, Justice Minister Helen Grant said: “When a person disappears with no explanation, their friends and family are left with an unbelievable amount to cope with – all of the unanswered questions and difficult emotions.
“We want to do everything we can to help families of missing people to deal with the administrative problems that can make life even more trying at such a difficult time.
“That is why we want to put measures in place so they can make alternative arrangements for the legal and financial affairs of their missing loved one. By having guardianship powers in place in those early months we can reduce some of the burdens when people’s lives are turned upside down.
“I want to do all that we can to support those left behind.”
Under current law families of missing people have no way to make alternative arrangements until their loved one can be presumed dead. This can be years after they went missing.
The proposals will fill that gap by creating a temporary status so a guardian can manage the property and affairs of the missing person.
A consultation with detailed proposals is due to be launched later this year.