...

$300 Divorce Cost a Man $100,000 in Texas

Recently, I found myself engaged in a particularly disheartening conversation with a distraught ex-husband who had separated from his wife as of June 2015. Following their decision to divorce, they had come to a mutual agreement that allowed him to retain a life insurance policy on his former wife. Despite their legal separation, they maintained a shared living arrangement until an unfortunate event in December 2015—the untimely death of the ex-wife. Recently, however, another blow struck the ex-husband when the insurance company denied his claim on the $100,000 policy, citing their legal divorce as the reason. He later realized how the divorce cost him.

Peeling back the layers of this scenario revealed that the ex-husband had chosen not to seek legal advice or representation. Instead, he adopted a do-it-yourself approach. His divorce cost only $300, spent obtaining the necessary divorce forms to finalize their separation legally. Now, confronted with the refusal of his insurance claim, the ex-husband was seeking counsel on potential courses of action. For over ten years, he had dutifully kept up with the policy payments, and now he found himself empty-handed. Unfortunately, due to the legal stipulations surrounding his situation, the law does not support his claim, as we shall delve deeper into below.

The Essential Nature of Updating Beneficiary Designations on a Life Insurance Policy

Residents of Texas, in particular, must review and update their beneficiary information on life insurance policies after a divorce. This action’s importance cannot be overstressed. It is quite common for people to neglect this critical task during the turbulence following a divorce. However, it can often lead to undesired and complicated outcomes. With the awareness of this frequent oversight, the Texas legislature passed a law specifically designed to tackle this issue. Texas Family Code §9.301 sets forth certain provisions that deal with situations where an ex-spouse remains the beneficiary of life insurance benefits after a divorce.

This legal statute asserts that designating a former spouse as a beneficiary before a divorce becomes invalid UNLESS one of three conditions is met:

  1. The divorce decree contains explicit instructions naming the insured’s former spouse as the beneficiary.
  2. The insured takes action to redesignate the former spouse as the beneficiary post-divorce.
  3. The ex-spouse receives the insurance proceeds in trust for, on behalf of, or for the benefit of a child or dependent of either ex-spouse.

It’s essential to highlight that an ex-spouse cannot legally collect on a life insurance policy designated before the divorce unless one of these three conditions is met. If none of these conditions apply, Texas Family Code §9.301 Section (b) dictates payment of the policy’s proceeds to the named alternative beneficiary, or if no such person exists, to the insured’s estate.

Emphasizing the importance of this issue, you should note that not informing an insurance company about the divorce, which results in erroneous payment of benefits to an ex-spouse, can lead to significant financial and logistical burdens in recovering the funds.

Necessary Steps If an Ex-Spouse Remains the Named Beneficiary

To avoid convoluted and potentially distressing situations, individuals should prioritize contacting their life insurance companies after divorce. Updating the beneficiary designations on all relevant policies is crucial, including retirement plans, annuities, survivor’s benefits, and any other benefit plans. This proactive approach ensures the distribution of financial assets according to updated wishes, eliminating unintended consequences.

If the insured has passed away and the ex-spouse remains incorrectly named as the beneficiary, measures exist to prevent the insurance company from paying the policy’s proceeds to the ex-spouse. Sending a written notice via certified mail to the insurance company’s headquarters is advisable, clarifying that the ex-spouse’s designation as a beneficiary is invalid under Texas Family Code §9.301.

How to Prevent Recurrence of Such Predicaments

In the case of the ex-husband mentioned earlier, he had options to prevent his current predicament. Firstly, he could have ensured the divorce decree clearly designated him as the beneficiary of his ex-wife’s insurance policy. Alternatively, once the divorce was finalized, he could have proactively updated the beneficiary information on the policy to remove his ex-spouse.

Individuals can protect their interests by adopting these measures. They ensure that their life insurance policies align with their current circumstances and intentions. Consulting a qualified family law attorney is always a wise decision when navigating the complexities and legalities of divorce. This is especially true in updating beneficiary designations on life insurance policies.

Regrettably, in the case of the ex-husband mentioned earlier, he made the decision to handle the legal intricacies of his divorce himself. He used only some standard forms he obtained for a nominal fee. This is a common mistake that many people make, underestimating the complexities of divorce and the ensuing financial implications. A qualified attorney’s counsel could have helped him avoid the unfortunate situation he found himself in where he was denied the life insurance payout despite making payments on the policy for over a decade.

A divorce attorney could have ensured that he updated the beneficiary designations on his life insurance policy immediately following the divorce, preventing potential issues with the payout in the event of his ex-spouse’s untimely death. Additionally, the attorney could have advised him to include a provision in the divorce decree, explicitly naming him as the beneficiary of his ex-wife’s life insurance policy.

It’s also worth mentioning that legal representation could have provided him with critical guidance about Texas Family Code §9.301 and how it impacts the designation of life insurance beneficiaries following a divorce. A competent attorney would have been able to explain the importance of meeting one of the three conditions stipulated by the law to maintain a valid claim on the policy.

Proactive Measures to Protect Your Interests


The financial consequences of a divorce go beyond the immediate division of assets and liabilities. You must consider long-term financial planning, which includes updating beneficiary designations on life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and similar plans. Additionally, it’s important to take steps to ensure the distribution of these assets according to your wishes in case of untimely death.

For instance, if you want to keep your ex-spouse as a beneficiary for the benefit of your shared children or dependents, you must state this clearly in the divorce decree or by redesignating your ex-spouse as the beneficiary after the divorce. In every case, you should notify the insurance company of these changes to avoid any potential issues.

Conclusion: Ensuring Your Wishes are Honored


In conclusion, promptly updating your life insurance policy and other financial plans following a divorce holds utmost importance. Not doing so can lead to unwanted complications, disputes, and potential financial loss. The unfortunate circumstances of the ex-husband described above highlight the necessity of seeking legal counsel when navigating the complexities of divorce and related financial matters.

Addressing these issues properly at the time of the divorce can prevent considerable future hardship. It enables you to ensure the fulfillment of your wishes and the distribution of your assets as intended.

Ebook

Adobe Stock 62844981[2]If you want to know more about what you can do, CLICK the button below to get your FREE E-book: 16 Steps to Help You Plan & Prepare for Your Texas Divorce

Divorce Wasting Assets[4] If you want to know more about how to prepare, CLICK the button below to get your FREE E-book: 13 Dirty Tricks to Watch Out For in Your Texas Divorce, and How to Counter Them” Today!

Other Articles you may be interested in:

  1. Texas Divorce and Retirement & Employment Benefits by the Numbers
  2. Is Social Security Considered Separate Property in a Texas Divorce?
  3. Will My Spouse Get Part of My Retirement in Our Texas Divorce?
  4. How Much Will My Texas Divorce Cost?
  5. How Can I Get My Spouse to Pay My Attorney’s Fees in a Texas Divorce?
  6. How am I going to Pay for My Texas Divorce?
  7. Should I Hide Money from my Spouse to Get Ready for my Texas Divorce?
  8. 7 Important Ways to Financially Prepare for Your Texas Divorce
  9. 6 Tips – On How to prepare for a Texas Divorce
  10. Can I get child support while my Texas divorce is pending?
  11. Obtaining a copy of your Final Order
  12. Low Cost and Affordable Divorces, Attorneys, Websites and Divorce Costs in Texas
  13. Ideas to help pay for your Texas Divorce
  14. Selling your home during a divorce in Texas
  15. Texas Estate Planning, Divorce and Protecting Assets
  16. Conducting yourself well inside and outside the courtroom is essential to having a successful divorce

Share this article

Category

Categories

Contact Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC Today!

At the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, the firm wants to get to know your case before they commit to work with you. They offer all potential clients a no-obligation, free consultation where you can discuss your case under the client-attorney privilege. This means that everything you say will be kept private and the firm will respectfully advise you at no charge. You can learn more about Texas divorce law and get a good idea of how you want to proceed with your case.

Office Hours

Mon-Fri: 8 AM – 6 PM Saturday: By Appointment Only

"(Required)" indicates required fields