Question:
I had a call from a life insurance company asking me if I was my former husbands wife at the time of his death. which by the way was 6 and 1/2 years ago. any way they asked me a few questions and told me that because he was divorced from his ex wife at the time of his death that voided her out as the one who could claim the death benefit. and because I was his wife then he needed my info, he said he would call me back in a few days to let me know about the proceeds. I was very stunned and like an idoit didn't get anymore info, like a phone# or what company. But can a divorce over ride a listed benefeciary, does this sound right? I work for an insurance company and that's not how our life policies work. whoever is listed, divorced or not gets the death benefit.
Answers:
I used to work for the largest insurer in the U.S. -- and one of the largest in the world. If the beneficiary designation simply stated "my wife," then the Company is correct (but this is VERY rare, since usually underwriters catch and correct this prior to the policy being issued); but if it reads "Jane Smith, relationship: wife," then the insurer is incorrect. While she was no longer his wife when he died, he left her as beneficiary, which is his right. (The "insurable interest" issue is only important at the time the policy is purchased.) If the insurer pays you, she'll sue (and rightfully so) and it'll end up having to pay her, too. The majority of insurers know this and avoid beneficiary disputes by paying the benefit to a court and filing what's known as a "request for interpleader." This means the insurer essentially asks the court to determine which party is the correct beneficiary.
This situation seems VERY suspicious to me. If they ask for any personal information, such as your social security number, DON'T give it to the caller until you are able to independently confirm this is all true.
a divorce does not void a beneficiary. your ex would of had to of changed the beneficiary. this sounds more like someone was trying to get personal info so they could do identity theft. watch your credit and be more leary next time.
Sounds like a scam to me. I have worked in the life insurance business for over 30 years and have never heard of a company calling someone to tell them they may be the beneficiary. It is usually up to the beneficiary to notify the company and whoever is named on the policy gets the money. End of story. If you gave out personal info, I would check to make sure they did not steal your identity.
Nope, it's a scam.
Hopefully, you didn't give them any of your personal information. If you did, immediately contact Equifax, Trans Union, and Experian. Let them know you may have inadvertently given your information to the wrong ppl. Also, contact the police and report the scam to them. Obviously, if they do call back try to get a phone number and an address from them.
Sounds like a scam to me. It doesn't work that way. Whoever is named beneficiary at the time of death, gets the money. You can't be "voided out" because of a divorce - only the policy owner can change the beneficiary.
Divorce can't override a beneficiary clause. I expect they're going to ask you for your SS# and date of birth, and then you're going to have an identity theft issue.
This article contents is post by this website user, HiAnswer.com doesn't promise its accuracy.
More Questions & Answers...