Legal Question in Family Law in New Jersey

Insurance beneficiary during separation.

My wife decided to move out of the

house last year. We have been

attempting to reconcile through

communication and marriage

therapy. In the meantime, my wife

has obtained new employment after

not working for a year after our

daughter was born, and has been

offered life insurance and other

benefits through her employer. She

attempted to coerce me into signing

a waiver of interest, but I refused.

The policy documents, as my wife

filled them out, name our child as

primary and my wife's mother as

contingent beneficiaries, though she

clearly marked ''married'' as her

marital status on the policy forms,

and continues to use our marital

home as her primary residence

address. I did not consent to any of

this. Can she legally do this, and

what are my options if either my

wife or both my wife and child

become deceased while we have not

been divorced? I told her that I did

not feel it was morally right for her

to ask me to waive any interest as

long as I would be financially

responsible for our joint debts and

the care of our daughter in the event

of a tragedy, but that I felt she

would be within her rights to do as

she wished if and when a divorce

happens. Am I wrong?

2 Answers from Attorneys

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