A big concern of those close to someone who has disappeared is that they have no power to look after the day-to-day affairs of their loved one.
It means bills often go unpaid and mortgages can cause problems.
The new legislation, if passed, would see a 'guardian' appointed by a court to look after the property and affairs of the missing person, 90 days after their disappearance. The Government says the guardian will be supervised by the Office of the Public Guardian and will be required to file accounts in much the same way as a Deputy appointed under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
Speaking about the changes, Justice Minister Lord Faulks said: "When someone suddenly disappears, their affairs can be thrown into disarray, adding to the distress and emotional heartbreak experienced by family members.
"That is why I am pleased to announce new measures that will give legal powers to families, allowing them to take charge of their missing family member's property and financial affairs."
Peter Lawrence, father of missing Claudia said: "I welcome this announcement of a proposed guardianship law. I am pleased that the government supports the role of guardian and will now start to prepare legislation to introduce it.
"I trust that the next Parliament will prioritise this new legislation so that families who have been waiting for so long for this new law will be able to look after their missing loved one's financial and practical affairs."
The legislation will have to make its way through the new Parliament after the election although it's thought to have cross party support so it should pass without opposition.
Listen to Peter Lawrence speaking to Premier's Marcus Jones here:
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