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| Claudia Lawrence: New law to finally come into force | Claudia Lawrence: New law to finally come into force |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A new law named after missing chef Claudia Lawrence is to finally come into effect to help the families of those who have disappeared. | A new law named after missing chef Claudia Lawrence is to finally come into effect to help the families of those who have disappeared. |
| 'Claudia's law' creates a legal status of guardian of the affairs of a loved one missing for 90 days or more. | 'Claudia's law' creates a legal status of guardian of the affairs of a loved one missing for 90 days or more. |
| The legislation, in memory of the 35-year-old, who went missing in York in 2009, will come into effect on 31 July, the government has confirmed. | The legislation, in memory of the 35-year-old, who went missing in York in 2009, will come into effect on 31 July, the government has confirmed. |
| Father Peter Lawrence said it would be a great help to thousands of families. | Father Peter Lawrence said it would be a great help to thousands of families. |
| Previously, when someone went missing, their family had no legal right to step in and manage their affairs. | Previously, when someone went missing, their family had no legal right to step in and manage their affairs. |
| Instead families could only take over the financial matters if they declared them dead, adding emotional pressure at an already difficult time. | Instead families could only take over the financial matters if they declared them dead, adding emotional pressure at an already difficult time. |
| The new legislation, officially known as the Guardianship (Missing Persons) Act, establishes a new legal mechanism to deal with the property and financial affairs of a loved one. | |
| Mr Lawrence, who has campaigned for the law change, told the BBC earlier this year: "What you're faced with is bank and other companies, quite rightly saying, 'I'm sorry, you're not our customers we cannot take your instructions'. | Mr Lawrence, who has campaigned for the law change, told the BBC earlier this year: "What you're faced with is bank and other companies, quite rightly saying, 'I'm sorry, you're not our customers we cannot take your instructions'. |
| "This will enable that guardian to do what everybody else does every day - move money around, change mortgages, cancel direct debits and goodness knows what else." | "This will enable that guardian to do what everybody else does every day - move money around, change mortgages, cancel direct debits and goodness knows what else." |
| He added: "It is one less burden at a time when families are at their emotional lowest ebb." | He added: "It is one less burden at a time when families are at their emotional lowest ebb." |
| Miss Lawrence disappeared on her way to work as a chef at the University of York. | Miss Lawrence disappeared on her way to work as a chef at the University of York. |
| North Yorkshire Police believe she was murdered but despite a lengthy investigation no-one has been charged in connection with her disappearance. | North Yorkshire Police believe she was murdered but despite a lengthy investigation no-one has been charged in connection with her disappearance. |