Is a spouse automatically a beneficiary on life insurance?

Is a spouse automatically a beneficiary on life insurance?

In simple terms, a life insurance beneficiary is a person who is entitled to receive the death benefit. There is no hard and fast rule that only your spouse or children can be named as your life insurance beneficiaries.

Can life insurance beneficiaries be contested?

Contesting a life insurance beneficiary is difficult and may result in a legal battle. It can consume a lot of time, energy and money. The final decision rests in the hands of the courts, not in those of the insurance companies. And it’s simply difficult for someone to challenge a life insurance policy contract.

Does beneficiary override spouse?

Under ERISA, if the owner of a retirement account is married when he or she dies, his or her spouse is automatically entitled to receive 50 percent of the money, regardless of what the beneficiary designation says. A spouse can forgo his or her right to 50 percent of the account by properly executing a Spousal Waiver.