MD HB596

Requires an individual to survive another person by at least 120 hours (5 days) to inherit property; those who do not survive this period are deemed to have predeceased the decedent

Repeals Maryland's existing simultaneous death provisions (Sections 10-801 through 10-805) and replaces them with language conforming to the Uniform Simultaneous Death Act

Establishes that certified death certificates serve as prima facie evidence of the time of death, and allows circumstantial evidence when no death certificate exists

Creates exceptions to the 120-hour survival requirement when a governing instrument (will, trust, deed, insurance policy) explicitly addresses simultaneous deaths or specifies a different survival period

Protects payors and third parties from liability when distributing assets in good faith reliance on apparent entitlement, provided they have not received written notice of a disputed claim

Takes effect October 1, 2026