Life Insurance Attorneys | St. Louis, Kansas City & Midwest

Life Insurance

It is common for many couples to take out a life insurance policy on themselves, with their spouse listed as the beneficiary upon death. In the event of divorce, most spouses may cancel the policy or change beneficiaries to immediate family members. When a life insurance policy has been set up to secure a long-term obligation for a spouse, however, the policy may be characterized as marital property and subject to continuation under terms of the property settlement. In addition, most couples commingle their income during the marriage and use their joint resources to pay the premiums on the life insurance policy. Over the duration of the marriage, the value of the whole life insurance policy may have increased substantially. No matter which spouse holds the policy, or how long they have had the policy in their name, all or some of its appreciated value must be characterized as joint marital property and subject to equitable distribution.

Is It Always A Good Idea To Liquidate Life Insurance Policies For A Divorce Settlement?

Depending upon your age, health, and goals for the policy benefits, it may serve you better to leave a life insurance policy in place and include all or part of the future benefits as part of your financial settlement.

Couples with high net worth have many complex issues to consider when heading into a divorce. Make sure your lawyer understands your needs and has the skill and experience to discuss these issues clearly. At Stange Law Firm, PC, we have the knowledge and capacity to ensure client’s rights are fully protected as they face their financial future with a fair property division.

We can help you with complex property issues, including:

Investment accounts, stocks, and bonds
Retirement accounts, pensions, 401(k) plans and IRA accounts
Inheritances
Divorce tax issues and marital debts

We have written articles about life insurance in divorce to help give you more information: Handling insurance policies during divorce, part 1 and part 2.

Contact Our Attorneys in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma

To learn more about life insurance in divorce, contact us online or by phone to schedule a confidential half-hour consultation. We have convenient multi-state locations in cities such as St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia, Springfield, Wichita, Tulsa, Chicago, Lincoln, and beyond.