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Bill

SB 250

Estates - Maryland Uniform Simultaneous Death Act

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bryan Simonaire and 1 co-sponsor

Maryland adopts Uniform Simultaneous Death Act to establish clear legal rules for distributing estates when multiple people die at approximately the same time.

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 508
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Bill Summary · SB 250

Legislative bill overview

SB 250 would adopt Maryland's version of the Uniform Simultaneous Death Act, a model law that establishes rules for distributing estates when two or more people die at approximately the same time without clear evidence of who died first. The bill provides statutory guidance for probate courts to determine property ownership and inheritance rights in these ambiguous situations.

Why is this important

Simultaneous or near-simultaneous deaths create legal complications—particularly in accidents, disasters, or medical situations—where traditional intestacy laws fail because they typically assume one person survives the other. This bill provides clear, uniform procedures that reduce litigation costs, expedite estate settlement, and ensure predictable outcomes for heirs and beneficiaries in these tragic circumstances.

Potential points of contention

  • Presumption of survivorship: The bill may establish presumptions (such as assuming the younger person survived) that some families might view as arbitrary or contrary to their specific wishes
  • Interaction with existing wills and trusts: Questions may arise about how the act applies to estates with detailed testamentary documents that include simultaneous-death contingencies
  • Burden of proof standards: Debate could occur over what evidence threshold is required to rebut statutory presumptions of death order

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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