§ 2.2-2829. Disappearance of public officer; when office presumed vacant.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law relating to the length of timeafter which the continued absence of a person shall create a presumption ofdeath, when a petition alleging that a person who is a public officer electedby the people or by the General Assembly or appointed by the Governor hasdisappeared and after diligent search cannot be found is presented to a courtof record in the city or county in which the last known residence of theperson is located, and when it appears to the satisfaction of the court thatthe circumstances surrounding the disappearance afford reasonable grounds forthe belief that the person is dead, then the office held by such person shallbe presumed to be vacant and the court shall enter an order to that effect.
(1973, c. 168, § 2.1-17.1; 2001, c. 844.)