---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 1512"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "1512"
heading: "Effect on State law"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/1512"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part II — Personnel"
  - "Chapter 76 — Missing Persons"
---

# §1512. Effect on State law

- (a) **Nonpreemption of State Authority.—** Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to invalidate or limit the power of any [State](/usc/10/4951.md?p=4) court or administrative entity, or the power of any court or administrative entity of any political subdivision thereof, to find or declare a [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) dead for purposes of such [State](/usc/10/4951.md?p=4) or political subdivision.
- (b) **State Defined.—** In this section, the term “[State](/usc/10/4951.md?p=4)” [includes](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-4) the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession of the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title V, § 569(b)(1), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 349.)