I think he's dead. Nobody knows for sure though. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Bingham%2C_7th_Earl_of_Lucan The 7th Earl of Lucan was presumed deceased in 1992, but no death certificate has been issued, so his earldom cannot yet be inherited by his son, George Bingham, Lord Bingham.The trustees of the 7th Earl of Lucan's Settled Estates in 1992 were granted an order known as "the 1992 Order" which enabled them to administer the 7th Earl's estate on the footing that the 7th Earl was dead and were further granted leave to apply to the Family Division to swear death. This enabled Lord Bingham to become the beneficiary of the Lucan Settled Estates. There is nothing to prevent Lord Bingham from styling himself the 8th Earl of Lucan although he cannot take his seat in the House of Lords. In August 1998, Lord Lucan's son (Lord Bingham) gave an interview to a national newspaper in which he said that five years ago he had obtained an order from a Chancery Court which does everything in law that can be done to treat a man as dead - so from that moment forward, given no disputed claim, he had succeeded to the title and also said that it was his intention to use it. He further stated that the Metropolitan Police had given a statement which testified to their belief that the 7th Earl is not alive and that none of the sightings in the past 24 years has been given any credence. The High Court of Justice granted probate on his free estate in 1999. The net value remaining amounted to less than £15,000. The Countess of Lucan (Lady Lucan) believes her husband to be dead, and sometimes uses the prefix 'dowager' to indicate this.