Legal Question in Insurance Law in Pennsylvania

Is there any way to change a beneficiary on an insurance policy after the insure

My father left my mother for another woman in 1989. He never looked back, leaving his wife and 2 children to fend for themselves. He never called to see how we were doing and never once offered a dime to care for us. Their divorce was finalized in 1998, then my father married the woman he left my mother for. On April 2, 2003 my mother passed away. She never left a will and only had an insurance policy which she neglected to remove my father as beneficiary. My father would not have even known she was dead unless I told him. He has not said a word to my mother in over 13 years. I went to my father and asked if he would help us with my mother's funeral expenses and he existing accounts and he said he would not sign anything over to us and he would not help us. Is there any way, since he is legally divorced to my mother and has since remarried, that his beneficiary status be removed or changed? If not, is there any way my family can sue him for my mother's expenses? As beneficiary, is he obligated to reimburse those that have paid or contributed to her funeral?


Asked on 4/10/03, 10:44 am

2 Answers from Attorneys

Scott Diamond DIAMONDLAWYER

Re: Is there any way to change a beneficiary on an insurance policy after the in

no, unless some special rule applies to your particlar policy

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Answered on 4/10/03, 10:47 am
Richard Teitell Richard K. Teitell, Esquire, P.C.

Re: Is there any way to change a beneficiary on an insurance policy after the in

The prior response you received is not correct. Pa. Law specifically states that a divorce in effect removes the ex-spouse as a beneficiary of the policy. You need to act quickly to notify the ins co not to pay the death benefit to your father. Please contact me if you need additional help. Richard Teitell, Esq.- 610-668-6424.

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Answered on 4/10/03, 2:18 pm


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