Estates - Maryland Uniform Simultaneous Death Act

HB 199 updates Maryland's law to align with the Uniform Simultaneous Death Act, clarifying how property is distributed when two people die close together with no clear evidence of who died first. It establishes a 120-hour (5-day) rule: if someone cannot prove they survived another by at least 120 hours, they are deemed to have predeceased that person for inheritance purposes. The bill directly affects individuals inheriting property, joint owners (like spouses), and beneficiaries of life insurance policies where survivorship is key. It does not override existing wills, trusts, or insurance contracts that specify different distribution rules.