Mississippi Slayer Statute and the Chris McDill Law Explained

Mississippi law contains specific provisions that prevent a person responsible for another's death from profiting from that death through inheritance. These rules fall under what is commonly called the "slayer rule" — a principle that exists in virtually every state but is implemented differently in each one. Mississippi has also enacted a separate, more specific statute arising from a specific case: the Chris McDill Law.

These are niche areas of law that most families will never encounter, but when they apply, they fundamentally reshape who inherits and who controls the funeral arrangements.

The Slayer Rule in Mississippi

Mississippi's slayer principle operates through several intersecting legal doctrines rather than a single, comprehensive slayer statute like those found in some other states.

Under established Mississippi case law and public policy, a person who feloniously and intentionally causes the death of another person is barred from inheriting from the victim's estate — whether through a will, intestate succession, survivorship rights, joint tenancy, or life insurance as a named beneficiary.

The rationale is straightforward: the legal system will not allow wrongdoers to benefit from their own crimes. A spouse who murders the other spouse cannot then claim the marital estate. A child who kills a parent is disinherited, regardless of what the will says.

Key points about the Mississippi slayer rule:

The disqualification is not automatic — it generally must be established through a legal proceeding. If criminal charges are pending, the civil estate proceeding may be stayed until the criminal case resolves, because a criminal conviction establishes the killing factually.

The property that would have passed to the killer passes as if the killer had predeceased the victim. So if a son who would have inherited a third of his father's estate is disqualified, that third passes to the son's children (the victim's grandchildren) or, if there are none, to the other heirs.

The disqualification applies not just to the estate itself but to other rights and benefits arising from the death — including, as noted in the disposition of remains law, the right to control the funeral and burial.

What about the burden of proof? In civil proceedings, the standard is typically preponderance of the evidence — more likely than not. A criminal conviction for murder or manslaughter is typically conclusive in the civil slayer proceeding. An acquittal in criminal court does not automatically prevent a civil disqualification, because the burdens of proof differ.

What Is the Chris McDill Law?

The Chris McDill Law is a Mississippi statute enacted in response to a specific tragedy. The law addresses a particular circumstance: what happens when someone purchases life insurance on another person and then murders them to collect the proceeds?

The Chris McDill Law directly bars a beneficiary who has been convicted of or adjudicated responsible for the death of the insured from receiving the life insurance proceeds. This supplements the general slayer rule and makes the bar explicit in the insurance context.

The proceeds do not simply go unpaid — they are redirected to the contingent beneficiary named in the policy, or, if none, to the insured's estate. This prevents the insurance company from retaining proceeds that rightfully belong to uninvolved heirs.

The law is named after a victim in a case that highlighted the gap in earlier legal protections for insurance beneficiaries in murder cases. While the statute is narrow in its specific application, it has broader importance as a signal that Mississippi courts and legislators take seriously the principle that wrongdoers should not benefit financially from their crimes.

How These Rules Affect Funeral and Estate Proceedings

Control of remains: Under Mississippi Code Section 73-11-58, a person adjudicated responsible for the decedent's death is specifically barred from exercising any control over the disposition of remains. This is a separate, express provision in the funeral law — not just a general slayer principle. It prevents a killer from controlling burial, cremation, or any aspect of the funeral.

Estate distribution: When a slayer disqualification is established, the Chancery Court distributes the estate as if the disqualified person predeceased the victim. This may require a formal Determination of Heirs proceeding if the disqualification significantly changes who inherits.

Joint accounts and survivorship property: Joint bank accounts with right of survivorship, joint tenancy in real property, and similar arrangements would normally pass automatically to the surviving co-owner. The slayer rule can prevent this if the surviving co-owner is the killer — the property may need to be re-characterized and distributed through the estate instead.

Life insurance: As the Chris McDill Law confirms, insurance proceeds can be redirected to the contingent beneficiary or the estate.

Practical Steps When These Rules May Apply

If you are an heir or personal representative in an estate where a potential slayer disqualification exists:

1. Consult a Mississippi estate attorney immediately — this area involves both criminal and civil law interacting with probate
2. Do not allow the potentially disqualified person to take custody of property or control funeral arrangements while the situation is unresolved
3. If criminal charges are pending, the Chancery Court may stay the estate proceeding until a criminal verdict is reached
4. If no criminal charges are filed but you believe a wrongful death caused the death, a civil proceeding in Chancery Court can establish the disqualification by a preponderance of evidence
5. Notify life insurance companies and financial institutions of the potential disqualification — they may have their own claims investigation processes

These are among the most legally sensitive and emotionally difficult circumstances that can arise in an estate. Professional legal representation is essential.

The Mississippi Funeral Laws & Consumer Rights Guide covers the general framework of Mississippi intestate succession and the circumstances that can complicate it, providing the foundational context for understanding how these more unusual rules interact with standard estate administration.

See more Mississippi guides →