What does the Uniform Simultaneous Death Act state about simultaneous deaths?

The Uniform Simultaneous Death Act addresses the situation where two or more individuals die at the same time, making it unclear who died first. This can complicate the distribution of their estates. According to the Act, if there is no sufficient evidence to determine the order of death, the property of each party is treated as though the other party survived. This means that all property is distributed as if the first to die survived, which ensures that a decedent's estate is not unjustly affected by the simultaneous death scenario.

This provision is crucial in preventing ambiguity in inheritance and ensures that the decedent's wishes, as reflected in their estate plan, are honored to the fullest extent possible. In practice, this means that any transfer of property or distribution of assets will proceed as if the decedent had survived, thereby avoiding potential conflicts among heirs based on an indeterminate order of death.

In contrast, the other options imply different arrangements that do not align with the principles established by the Uniform Simultaneous Death Act. For instance, dividing property equally among heirs or considering each party's estate as having predeceased the other would not accurately reflect the Act's intent to clarify the distribution process and uphold the decedent's planned inheritance directives. Thus, the