Presumptive Finding of Death by a Service Department

• States that it is pursuant to the provisions of the Missing Persons Act (37 U.S.C. 555-556).

• Date of death is a statutory date (usually a year and a day from the missing date, but may be later; or in certain cases even earlier).

• Establishes the fact of death.

• Does not establish the date of death (use the missing date, usually cited in the finding, in the absence of evidence establishing a later date).

Presumptive Finding of Death by the Maritime War Emergency Board

• Establishes the fact and date of death.

• Issued when a merchant seaman was lost as a result of enemy action during war time.

• Use the date of loss on the presumptive finding as the date of death, even if it conflicts with the date of loss on Form NCG-742 (Material Balance Report).

• Make requests for records through Office of Income Security Programs (OISP), Office of Application and Electronic Services Support Policy (OAESSP).