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Life Insurance in Divorce Matters

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 Today to Schedule an Initial Consultation

To learn more about life insurance in divorce, contact us online or by phone to schedule a confidential consultation by calling 855-805-0595.

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Helpful Information Regarding Property and Debt Division From our Webpage

We also have pages on numerous other topics related to property and debt division from our webpage, including the pages below and on our menu:

High Asset Divorce

If you are considering divorce and have a high net worth, it's important that you have legal counsel in your corner. It is also vital that you have an attorney that is diligent on your behalf.

Divorce Financial Planning

If you will be going through a divorce, conducting divorce financial planning can be critical to ensuring that you can move on with your life on sound financial footing.

Commingling Assets

In many divorce, parties own some assets prior to marriage and then buy additional assets after marriage. Often, these assets can end up being mixed together (or commingled). If this has happened in your case, it is important to work a diligent lawyer.

Transmutation

In some cases, a party might own certain property or assets prior to marriage. After marriage, the assets might become re-titled in joint names, which can result in the assets being transmuted into marital property. Our lawyers can help you if this is what has happened in your case.

Complex Property Distribution

In many high asset divorces, property distribution can be complex and complicated. Our attorneys can help you with difficult property distribution.

The Marital Home

The martial home can often be one of the most prized marital assets in a divorce. The marital residence can also be important as it relates to stability for children in divorce. Our lawyers can assist if this is the case for you.

Real Estate Appraisers

When residential or commercial property is owned in a divorce, ensuring that this property is properly valuated by a real estate appraisal can be critical in many cases. Our lawyer can help ensure you are referred to a competent real estate appraisal.

Trusts

Many parties have either created trusts for their family, or stand to inherit funds through a trust outside of the probate court. In many cases, this can be an important issue in a divorce in which our lawyers can help.

Inheritance

In many divorces, parties have either inherited, or stand to inherit, sums of money from their parents or other relatives. This can be a contentious issue in some cases in which our lawyers can help.

Investment Accounts

In many marriages, parties can have investments accounts where they are saving money in the hopes that they can have a better life, save for their retirement and have assets in which to provide their children and grandchildren. When a divorce takes place, it's vital that these assets be appropriately accounted for in the property division phase of a divorce.

Stocks and Bonds

Many married couples also have significant sums in stocks and bonds. It's vital to work with an attorney to have an accounting of what is out there and to ensure it is properly addressed in family court.

Life Insurance

Term life and whole life insurance policies are commonly held by parties in a marriage. When parties divorce, these life insurance policies can become critically important in terms of the possession of the policies, the beneficiaries that remain on them and who is to make the payments and/or have possession of the cash value in instance of whole life insurance.

Appreciation of Separate Property

In some dissolution of marriages, parties owned and possessed separate property prior to marriage. During the marriage, these assets can often increase in value due, in part, to the contribution of the other spouse. Our lawyers can help individuals in these instances.

Marital Debt

In many cases, debt can be a real problem as it relates to property distribution, albeit through support or marital debt. If that is the case in your divorce, our lawyers can assist.

Jumbo Mortgages

Jumbo mortgages can be an issue in some divorces. If this is the case for you, you can talk to our lawyers.

Property Issues for Unmarried Couples

For many unmarried couples, they can accumulate property and debt. When they separate, the property and debt they own together can become a contentious issue. Our lawyers can often help if this is the case through a partition action.

Quit Claim Deed

Some people wonder how to transfer title out of joint names after a divorce. Our lawyers can help explain how a Quit Claim Deed works.

Refinance

Many are not sure as well how to get a mortgage out of the names of both spouses after divorce. Find out more about refinance and divorce.

Gift Affidavits

Parties oftentimes have to transfer title to their vehicles as part of a divorce. Find out more about how gift affidavits work.

Commissioner to Sell Real Estate

Some divorcing parties are unable to work together to sell their real estate as part of the divorce. You might be interested in knowing more about the possibility of a Commissioner being appointed.

Contact the Multi-State Family Law & Divorce Lawyers at Stange Law Firm

If you looking to find and hire a family lawyer, contact us online or by phone to schedule a confidential consultation at any of our convenient locations by calling 855-805-0595.

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