If I am the beneficiary on my ex-husband’s life insurance policy, does the divorce invalidate me as the beneficiary?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

If I am the beneficiary on my ex-husband’s life insurance policy, does the divorce invalidate me as the beneficiary?

Me and my husband got divorced 5 years ago. If I am still listed as the beneficiary on his life insurance policies does the divorce invalidate them or am I still the beneficiary? There was nothing stated about the policies in the divorce decree. We have 4 kids 3 adults and one teen if I was invalidated from collecting the insurance money would it go directly to them? The contigent beneficiary is dead.

Asked on July 9, 2012 under Insurance Law, Minnesota

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 11 years ago | Contributor

An insurance policy is a contract. If you were named as an individual--i.e. using your name, not your marital status--you should still be the beneficiary. However, if the policy in any way identified you as his "wife," then the fact that you are no longer his wife most likely means that you are not the beneficiary anymore.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption