In response to the question "Do these jeans make my ass look big?" from his wife, he replied... "Of course not, dear", but then he casually rolled his eyes when he thought she wasn't looking.

She was looking.

It can mean someone died in their sleep. By the same token, I had a friend whose cancer had gotten to a point where she took advantage of assisted suicide and died by choice and peacefully surrounded by friends. My grandmother died "peacefully" sitting with friends one afternoon having tea. She was there one minute and gone the next. It can mean different things in different circumstances.

It means "non-violent death" as in, not from a murder or suicide.

It means just what the normal dictionary definitions mean to me - free from disturbance, tranquil. Not involving violence.

To me, it simply means they died without pain.  Age isn't really a factor, considering many young people die of cancer and other ailments.   As Nina Hollander said, it means different things under different circumstances.

I like how Nina Hollander said it.  I concur.

Kathleen,

As I remember it, we had to disclose violent deaths (murders) or suicides (violent by definition).  Peacefully is not violent.  We have gotten overwhelmed with disclosure protocol and other PC rules in real estate.  

I think it encompasses more then age Kathleen Daniels . To me it's anything but a violent death.

Hmm I imagine this could be subject to much interpretation.  I might "assume" natural causes but the opinions of others tell us anything is possible as you and I know.  

died in their sleep, no drama like shootings or something.

A friend of mine said his grandfather died peacefully in his sleep, unlike the three passengers in the car he was driving.

The only real question here is 'Does it matter?"

If it does, show them new construction.

If it does not, reflect the question..."What do you want it to mean." Then agree they could be correct. Agents asking DUMB-ASS questions deserve no answer.

The requirement for disclosures where someone ultimately must PROVE what they don't know is asinine. Sell the real estate it the same way Bank of America sells their stolen real estate.

What does it mean to me?  This house is unlikely to be found in past police reports of a homicide.

Somehow we all want to believe 'died peacefully' is a beautiful thing.

Many buyers, especially my Asian and or religious clients, will not buy a home where murder was committed or a long illness occurred, hence..."died peacefully".

Perhaps in his/her sleep.

Not violently?

Kathleen,  I believe the answer needs to be examined in the context of materialiality.     As you noted, disclosing a death is, by law, material.    However, if the buyer asks for more detail, disclosure of those circumstances may be viewed as material to the buyer's decision to purchase.   

In that case, I'd disclosed the precise cause and circumstance, and avoid trying to interpret the agent's use of "died peacefully."    In addition to suicide and homicide, an accident may be viewed as violent....  I'd stay away from the temptation to interpret and just state the facts.

(From the phrasing of the question, it sounds like the listing agent first introduced the language "died peacefully," and a selling agent asked for clarification.)

no, does not necessarily mean old age.... I interpret "died peacefully" as not being hooked up to anything.... and with no pain ....with death happening while sleeping....

Oh, age has nothing to do with it, Kathleen. I had many very young oncology and HIV patients die in their homes, peacefully - without pain and surrounded by loved ones. They chose to be home too - right where they wanted to leave this world (that alone evoked peace within many).

I take it to mean literally, in peace, regardless of age.

Kathleen, I am in total agreement with your take on this.  I showed a home this summer that I learned was a murder-suicide and the murdered victim turned out to be a former student of mine.  A sweet girl in class.  HORRIBLE!  There was still a bullet hole in the garage ceiling where it happened.  The manner in how the deaths occurred did matter to my clients at first, but they later got beyond the issue after ruminating on the situation.  They ended up passing on the home for other reasons.  In Indiana the listing agent and seller are not required to disclose a psychologically affected property  so the agent was doing her job by not saying anything to the buyer's agents.  Some got angry when they learned after the showing so it does tell me that a "peaceful" death can be accepted by many buyers out there, while a "non-peaceful" death certainly has a greater potential to be a  deal breaker.   I still grieve for her and what happened. 

More and more people are electing for home hospice care and to die in their home in a peaceful and dignified manner surrounded by their loved ones.  Speaking from experience, it's much better than your parents dying in a nursing home!

Natural causes is what it means here.

In all honesty, died peacefully would mean of natural causes to me.  They weren't murdered and didn't die in a household accident.

To me it means death other than murder or a suicide. It does not have to be old age necessarily.

I would say the person died in a way other than suicide or murder. 

Natural causes.

To me "died peacefully" means it was not due to any kind of violence.

Considerable absence of the push & pulls of life leaves us with peace

"Died peacefully"...my father died in his home. He had accepted that the end of his life was at hand and was ready to go. He didn't like the waiting and was ready to go.

1st let me say, RIP, the owner who died.

To me that means they died naturally, the cause undetermined.

Non violent as in natural causes vs. suicide, murder, etc.

To me it means someone died peacefully in their sleep. 

I just think that means it was natural, not as a result of violence.

It could be old age, but also could be sickness. WHat about a sudden heart attack? some say it is better to go quick and no i am not being morbid. In nH we do not unless it is askedand unless we know. I did have a murder home listed that was bank owned and in a rural town. When listing it i did not know. When going in i noticed and felt something wrong. The neighbors soon filled me in. It was sold cheap and the buyer knew. 

No yellow do not cross tape, sirens, gunshots, headlines. Everyone buying a home wants whoever owned it that died to do that dying part in a facility, away from the house. The house was not the cause of death. Every home owner can not be listed as dying in their sleep and you have to study death certificate for the cause of death to be sure? Had a house where a fire took the life of both the husband and wife... but the coroner still has to list one as before or after for the time of death on the death certificate. Not the exact same time for each. What other states require the same disclosure?

Age has nothing to do with it. People can die peacefully at any age. They usually knew they were close to death, understood and accepted death as normal, and could have had religious beliefs that made death a comfortable experience. I've been with people that died peacefully hooked up to a morphine drip. They were relaxed and comfortable when they died.

not violently murdered

Lack of trauma from another person or persons or outside forces (hurricane causing a tree to fall leading to death, earthquake, etc...).

No chalk lines

"died peacefully" means somebody did not make it! Take it as you will.

No tubes, no nurses, no family, and a smile on the face!

Someone terminated the contract...

Anything short of murder or an accident?

And here I thought that meant no blood was spilled on the carpet!!

That they died of natural causes ( old age)

One does not die of "old age" which is a euphemism to describe the death of an older person who has died from one of many natural causes.

If that agent cannot deal with "died peacefully" that is no among of explanation that will help him/her.

Did not get killed by spouse or bbqed by hateful neighbor.

Meaning natural death.

Wow  good question, wonder what it means

Just went to sleep and never woke?