My mother bought a life insurance policy with me as the beneficiary. Can I get a copy of the policy to look it over and keep so I can find all of the contact information when she dies?

Janet, Texas

Dear Janet,

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), while she is alive your mother could change the beneficiary of the life insurance at any time (unless you are designated irrevocably), so you have essentially no rights regarding the policy.

If your mother were to die, you would probably have the right to see a copy of the policy, but you might actually have to sue, or threaten to sue, alleging that you were not paid the correct amount, in order to force a reluctant insurer to provide you with a copy of the policy, says the NAIC.

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