Recent death in family life insurance policy not changed still had exwife not current wife.?

Question

What are laws in Wisconsin? What happens if it goes to the estate?

Answer 1

The insurance death benefit is separate from the estate. The proceeds go to the ex because she had an insurable interest in the husband at the time she was named beneficiary. If it was never changed, she gets the money and there is nothing the current wife can do.

Answer 2

Ex-wife gets it.  Current wife can sue ex-wife and argue that it wasn't the intent of the policy and might get some of it back.

Answer 3

The other posters here are correct.  The laws of Wisconsin have nothing to do with it, and the named beneficiary(s) on the policy have EVERYTHING to do with it.  If the deceased failed to properly change the named beneficiary, the one still named on the policy will get the proceeds of the policy.

Answer 4

Nothing she can do - that's why its important to review your financial information regularly.

My parents just sat down with their estate planner last week to make sure their trust was up to date, due to new grandchildren being born since it was established.

As the others have said, the insurance policy is a contract and the man named his ex-wife as the beneficiary.  The court can't override that.

If they had children together, hopefully the ex-wife at least has the decency to make sure that the money helps take care of any children/grandchildren's needs.

Answer 5

The insurance company will only pay to the named beneficiary.  Wills have nothing to do with it.

Answer 6

The insurance policy is a contract. State courts will NOT go against the stated wishes of the deceased. Since the policy is a contract current wife is out of luck. This is why making sure your financial information is up to date is important every year.

Answer 7

Sorry for current wife.

insurance policys are normally outside of 'estates' so the EX Wife gets the proceeds and current get nothing from insurance policy. it is legal .

current gets husband's estate except for anything pre excluded based on state laws.

sorry.

Answer 8

Every time I have heard of this happening it is always the person who is listed on the policy who gets the money.  I feel so bad for the current wife.