How to protect your life insurance money from being stolen

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Life insurance provides financial protection for your family after you die. When you get a policy, you list beneficiaries who receive the funds you spend years, or even decades, paying for.

If you’re worried that someone who isn’t listed as a beneficiary in your policy could steal your money — you can rest assured that they won’t be able to unless there are extenuating circumstances. Generally, life insurance companies only pay out to the listed beneficiaries. But, if there is solid proof that you named your beneficiaries under duress, your death benefit can be contested.

Who gets the life insurance death benefit?

The life insurance death benefit is paid to the beneficiaries designated by the policyholder. These beneficiaries are named directly on the life insurance policy, and the proceeds bypass the probate process, meaning they do not become part of the deceased’s estate. This ensures that the money goes directly to the intended recipients, whether they are relatives, friends, or even organizations, as specified by the policyholder. If no beneficiary is named or all named beneficiaries have passed away, the death benefit may go to the policyholder’s estate, which could lead to probate and open the possibility of disputes.

It’s important for policyholders to regularly update their beneficiary designations to ensure that the right person or people receive the death benefit. If a beneficiary is clearly designated, relatives cannot legally interfere with the payout. However, if the beneficiary information is outdated or unclear, disputes could arise among family members, leading to potential legal challenges. To avoid this, keeping the policy information current and ensuring the correct beneficiaries are listed is essential.

When a life insurance beneficiary can be contested

There are protections for life insurance beneficiaries so they are the only ones receiving the death benefit. But, if someone believes they are entitled to a death benefit, they can contest a life insurance beneficiary designation, though the process depends on state law. To contest a beneficiary designation they will be required to show the court one of the following:

The deceased lacked the mental capacity to know what they were signing.
The deceased was pressured into creating the beneficiary designation.
The beneficiary exercised undue influence over the signer, such as limiting outside contacts.
The documents were falsified.

Whether or not your case will be heard depends on the state’s laws and governing body.

How to safeguard your life insurance policy

You can take steps to protect your life insurance beneficiaries and ensure that the death benefit is only paid out to them. These steps include:

Updating your life insurance policy everytime you experience a major life event
Documenting any important details about your life insurance policy in a legal document your family will see, like your will
Working with your insurer to ensure your policy is up to date and they’ve processed any changes

It’s crucial to be specific when designating beneficiaries on your life insurance policy and ensure you’re in the right frame of mind when doing so. For instance, simply naming “my spouse and children” can spark disputes, particularly in cases of remarriage. To avoid confusion and potential conflicts, it’s important to use full names and clear designations. If your policy is vague—such as referring to “my children” without naming them—the payout is typically divided equally among all primary beneficiaries, according to ACLI spokesperson Whit Cornman. Including names, addresses, and Social Security numbers is essential for clarity and accuracy.

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How your insurer protects your beneficiaries

Insurers are highly motivated to avoid paying life insurance benefits to the wrong person, as doing so can lead to significant legal and financial repercussions.

“If they make a mistake, they can’t recover the money and may end up paying twice,” explains Steve Weisbart, Chief Executive Officer at WEI Research. Beyond the financial loss, insurers would also face extensive legal proceedings and additional administrative burdens.

In cases where there’s a dispute over the rightful beneficiaries, insurers typically deposit the funds into a trust account overseen by a state court until the matter is resolved, according to ACLI spokesperson Whit Cornman.

Rest assured, insurance companies will go to great lengths to ensure that payouts go to the correct individuals, minimizing the risk of errors.

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