New Jersey § 43:3a-1

§ 43:3a-1.

In case any person holding office, position or employment in the service of the State,

and being a member, in good standing, of any pension or retirement system or fund

to which the State is a contributor, has been or shall be absent from the place of

his last known residence for a period of not less than two months, under circumstances

indicating that he died by reason of an accident which occurred in the actual performance

of the duties of his office, position or employment and that the natural and proximate

cause of his death was the performance of his said duty, and such as would entitle

any dependent or dependents of such person to a pension from said pension or retirement

system or fund if he were actually dead, and the head of the principal department

of the State Government, under which such person held such office, position or employment,

upon proof submitted to him or from other information, is satisfied that said person

may reasonably be presumed to have died at a certain place on a certain day in the

manner and for the causes hereinbefore described, he shall issue his certificate accordingly,

stating the date, the circumstances and place of said presumed death and thereupon

such person shall be presumed to be dead as of the time so certified for the purposes

of this act.