<P> In some cases, a person will be declared dead even without any remains or doctor's declaration . This is under one of two circumstances . First, if a person was known to be in mortal peril when last seen, they can often be declared dead shortly after . Examples would be the passengers of the Titanic that were not rescued after the ship sank . Second, if a person has not been seen for a certain period of time and there has been no evidence that they are alive . The amount of time that has passed varies by jurisdiction, from as little as four years in the US state of Georgia to twenty years in Italy . </P> <P> There are three general categories where people may be falsely declared dead: by mistake, because of fraud, or as punishment for a crime . </P> <P> Sometimes people who are declared dead return and are unable to be declared alive . One study estimated that every year, the U.S. Social Security Administration declares 12,200 alive citizens as dead . </P> <Ul> <Li> Donald E. Miller Jr., an Ohio man declared legally dead in 1994 . He resurfaced in 2013 and sued to be declared alive, but the court declined and ruled he was still legally dead . </Li> </Ul>

The legal definition of death in most u.s. states is