D.C. Code § 16-1157: Preservation of life tenants’ rights if living at time of return.

When a guardian, trustee, or other person holding an estate or interest determinable upon the life of another person, shows by affidavit or otherwise to the satisfaction of the court, that:

(1)

he has used his utmost efforts to procure the tenant for life to appear in the court or elsewhere, according to the order of the court;

(2)

he can not procure or compel him so to appear; and

(3)

the tenant for life is or was living at the time of the return made and filed, as prescribed by this subchapter —