The beneficiary of a life insurance policy is the individual(s) designated by the insured to receive the benefits (money) upon the death of the insured. The beneficiaries are identified by the insured when the policy is initially purchased and issued but they can be changed afterwards. Sometimes, changes to the beneficiaries may lead to disputes because an insured may fail to properly complete the forms necessary to make the changes. Whether those attempted changes are enforceable is often a matter of state law, which varies, and the disputes are frequently decided by a judge in the context of a lawsuit filed by the insurance company against the beneficiaries.
Please contact Joel Ewusiak for legal assistance with disputes concerning the identification of life insurance beneficiaries.