How do you declare someone legally dead in Texas?

In Texas, a person can be declared legally dead through a court process or by a physician. If a person is missing and presumed dead, their family can file a petition for a declaration of death after the individual has been absent for at least seven years, or in some cases, under specific circumstances like disappearance due to a disaster. A court hearing will determine if the presumption of death is warranted. For those who die under medical circumstances, a physician’s certification of death is sufficient for legal purposes.