Q: Can Knights of Columbus refuse to cancel my life insurance policy? They won't let me change beneficiaries or cancel.
I have been divorced for a long time. I've recently remarried and I'm updating my insurance beneficiary with Knights of Columbus. They asked for a copy of my divorce decree and replied with this: It appears the divorce decree did not have any information concerning your KOFC policy. We cannot change the beneficiary without a letter of relinquishment from the former spouse confirming they no longer have interest in his Knights of Columbus Policies (signed, dated, and notarized). I was shocked and said I wanted to cancel the policy but KofC said they can't do that without my ex-wife permission. Am I crazy? Surely they cannot force me to pay for a life insurance policy for my ex wife just because they are not specifically listed in the divorce decree. Nowhere in the decree does it say I am required to pay for life insurance coverage of any kind for her.
A:
1. Because Texas is a community property state, when an insured is/was married, it can cause problems for a beneficiary later on because the surviving spouse can claim that s/he is entitled to some of the policy payout.
2. If you don't pay the premiums, the policy will simply lapse.
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