Jan. 24, 2007

If a person with a life insurance policy pays premiums on the policy for one year, and then commits suicide, would the insurer pay the beneficiaries? Or does suicide void the life insurance contract?

Carlos, Ohio

Most life insurance policies have a "suicide clause" stating that the policy will not pay if the policyholder commits suicide within two years of buying the policy. This is to discourage people from buying a life insurance policy with suicide in mind. Each life insurance policy provides specific details about its suicide clause.

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