DIFFICULTIES MET

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 283, 11 September 1941, Page 3

DIFFICULTIES MET

WAR INSURANCE CLAIMS. PRESUMPTION OF DEATH. (P.A.) WELLINGTON, September 10. Insurance companies, in the settlement of war claims under life policies are faced with problems and difficulties not met with in the war of 1014-18, it was stated in response to inquiries made to-day. 'They arise from ine fact that in a war of fast movement it is often not definitely known what has happened to a man, and a presumption of death is not evidence that death has actually occurred. Decisions of Courts of Inquiry'are not proof of death. The difficulty of the companies is that, in the event of their paying out on a, policy in the case of a person who later proves to be alive they remain liable under the policy, and in due. course must pay again. The fact of payment, relying on probate or administration on the estate, is no protection and, while the right exists to recover moneys paid from the payee, its value is doubtful as in most cases they would have been spent. All persons dealing with a deceased’s estate, or executor or administrators, were of course in the same unenviable position. A similar difficulty exists in regard to airmen. Many missing and believed killed may he in hiding in friendly enemy-occupied countries. “It is evident that under modern day conditions of warfare some reasonable period of time should be allowed to pass before claims are paid and the estate settled, unless of course there is conclusive and corroborated evidence of death,” it was stated.