Divorce and Life Insurance
Divorce is one of the most overlooked — and most dangerous — times for life insurance rights. While separating spouses focus on property division, custody, and support, life insurance policies are often ignored or misunderstood. As a result, beneficiaries are changed, policies lapse, ownership rights are lost, or required coverage is never properly secured.
These mistakes often come to light years later, when a former spouse or children attempt to collect life insurance benefits and discover that the policy does not reflect what was agreed to, ordered, or expected. By that point, correcting the problem may be difficult or impossible.
Our life insurance attorneys work with individuals going through divorce or separation who want to protect their financial interests and avoid irreversible life insurance mistakes. If life insurance is part of your divorce — or should be — we can help you understand your rights, risks, and options before it is too late.
Call (888) 510-2212 to schedule a confidential consultation with one of our life insurance attorneys.
Our Experience With Life Insurance Issues During Divorce
Life insurance disputes related to divorce are rarely simple. These matters often involve overlapping issues of family law, insurance law, contract law, and, in some cases, federal law. Even well-drafted divorce agreements can fail to protect beneficiaries if life insurance policies are not handled correctly.
Our attorneys regularly advise clients on life insurance issues arising during and after divorce, including situations involving:
Spouses remaining listed as beneficiaries after divorce
Failure to update or verify beneficiary designations
Disputes over policy ownership and control
Court-ordered life insurance intended to secure support
Employer or group life insurance overlooked during divorce
Policies lapsing during separation or litigation
Allegations of improper or last-minute beneficiary changes
Child support protection through life insurance planning
In many cases, the problem is not intentional misconduct, but incorrect assumptions about how life insurance works during divorce.
Common Life Insurance Problems That Arise in Divorce
Life insurance issues during divorce often follow familiar patterns. We have seen disputes involving:
Assumptions that divorce automatically removes an ex-spouse as beneficiary
Reliance on revocation-upon-divorce laws that do not apply
Not knowing about revocation-upon-divorce laws
Failure to confirm compliance with divorce orders
Confusion between policy ownership and beneficiary rights
Misunderstanding employer-provided or federally governed policies
Delayed action that results in permanent loss of benefits
Not understanding post-distribution lawsuits (families sue a former spouse after life insurance payout)
Because life insurance is governed by policy documents and an intricate web of state and federal laws even small oversights can have lasting consequences.
Examples of Divorce-Related Life Insurance Disputes We Handle
Our attorneys have been involved in matters involving:
Life insurance proceeds paid to an ex-spouse contrary to expectations
Disputes between children and former spouses after death
Claims involving failure to maintain court-ordered life insurance
Beneficiary changes made during separation or pending divorce
Employer life insurance disputes following divorce
Litigation over ownership and control of life insurance policies
Each case is fact-specific, and outcomes often depend on timing, documentation, and how policies were handled during the divorce process.
Life Insurance Attorney Consultation: What to Expect
We offer a paid consultation for individuals going through divorce who want to proactively address life insurance issues and reduce the risk of future disputes or litigation. Before the consultation, our attorney will review the relevant documents you provide, such as life insurance policies, beneficiary designations, or divorce-related orders, so the time is focused and productive. During the consultation, we will discuss how life insurance fits into your overall planning, identify potential problem areas, and outline a clear framework for handling your policy in a way that aligns with your interests. Clients often find that this structured review provides clarity and peace of mind by helping ensure their life insurance is addressed thoughtfully, rather than becoming a source of conflict later.
How Our Attorneys Can Help Protect Your Life Insurance Rights
Life insurance planning during divorce requires careful, informed review. Our attorneys can help clients understand how life insurance fits into their broader financial picture and what steps may be necessary to avoid future disputes.
We assist clients by:
Reviewing life insurance policies and beneficiary designations
Explaining how divorce may affect life insurance rights
Analyzing whether child support can be secured using life insurance
Identifying risks related to ownership, control, and lapse
Clarifying how court orders interact with insurance policies
Advising on questions to raise with divorce counsel
Helping clients understand their options before irreversible mistakes occur
Our goal is to help clients make informed decisions and avoid preventable disputes that often arise after divorce.
Contact a Divorce and Life Insurance Attorney
If you are going through divorce or separation and life insurance is involved — whether as a financial asset, a support obligation, or future protection for children — it is important to address these issues early. We offer confidential consultations to help clients assess their situation, understand potential risks, and determine whether further action is necessary.