Steve Fossett Update

Earlier on this blog, I discussed Steve Fossett’s disappearance and his wife’s petition to declare him legally dead.

Harlan J. Protass, How To Prove Your Spouse Is Dead, slate.com, Nov. 29, 2007, has more on this story:

How do you prove that someone is dead without a body?***

Wait seven years and file an application with a court.***

That Fossett has been missing for only months rather than years shouldn’t impede his wife’s application, though, because she’s not trying to have him declared dead in the broadest legal sense. Instead, she’s filing under an Illinois statute that uses more relaxed standards for the presumption of death (and no seven-year requirement).***

Here is additional information from Michael Higgins, Court is asked to declare Fossett legally dead, chicagotribune.com, Nov. 27, 2007:

[Steve] Fossett’s wealth is vast, surpassing eight figures in liquid assets, various entities and real estate,” the court petition said.***

It could take two to three years to distribute Fossett’s assets.***

Steve has not accessed any of his assets since his disappearance. Steve had no debt and no life insurance.”***