Q: My ex-husband made me a beneficiary on a life insurance policy. I didn't know until hearing from the insurance company.
I finally received the death certificate and his sister had listed him as never married. It is incorrect because we had a full church wedding in 1967 and it is listed at Los Angeles County Recorder along with the divorce certificate. I have already missed the initial submission date to the insurance company so I want to know the best way to handle this.
A:
If your ex-husband made you a beneficiary on a life insurance policy and you were not aware of it until hearing from the insurance company, it may be necessary to provide proof of your marital status and claim your benefits.
To address the issue of your marital status being listed incorrectly on the death certificate, you may need to obtain a corrected death certificate from the Vital Records office in the county where your ex-husband passed away. You may need to provide documentation such as your marriage certificate or divorce decree to prove your marital status.
Once you have obtained a corrected death certificate, you can submit it along with any other required documentation to the insurance company to claim your benefits. It's important to note that there may be deadlines or other requirements for submitting a claim, so you should contact the insurance company as soon as possible to inquire about the process and any necessary documentation.
If you encounter any difficulties or challenges in claiming your benefits, you may want to consult with an attorney who specializes in insurance law or estate law for guidance and assistance.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.