Investigators found legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Machiko Arakawa, dead under mysterious circumstances. Indications are that Hackman passed about a week after Arakawa.
The timing of their deaths matters due to the simultaneous death rule. This rule can impact inheritances when spouses die close in time to each other and their plans do not address this scenario.
The Uniform Simultaneous Death Act states that if two people die within 120 hours (5 days) of each other, they are treated as both dying before each other. That way, their assets pass to the next-in-line beneficiaries—not to each other—and avoid double probate. The law is only a default, meaning that an estate plan can extend the 120 hours.
Schedule an appointment to learn more about simultaneous death provisions.
