by bentley1 » Fri Oct 28, 2011 09:53 pm
My brother was murdered 23 years ago. He left a life insurance policy with his 4 years old daughter as the beneficiary. It was through his work and I don't remember the company he worked for at the time. He was in construction work. The insurance company (which I don't recall who it was) contacted me because he put me down as his contact number. He was divorced at the time and his ex was involved with his murder. I wanted no contact with her. There was info on the form I didn't know such as my nieces social security number so I gave the form to her mother's sister to give to her. Apparently she never filled it out and sent it in. I assume this because I recently asked my niece about it and she never knew anything about it. She is now 27 and a single mother. I would really like to help her get the 10,000 dollar policy she is entitled to. I have searched every where on the web and it has been of no help. I hope you can help her with this. One last thing, is it possibly that her mother claimed it for her after his death because she was a minor? Thank you for any help you may provide.
Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 05:12 am Post Subject:
This is a really hard situation.
The only thing I can think of, is to find out about your brother's employer and they can give details about the life insurance policy. U may try the policy locator service also.
Looking for a policy that's 23 years old can be difficult but it still might be recovered.
If your niece was the only beneficiary of the life insurance policy then I don't think her mother could've taken the money. Proceeds are not given to a minor or her guardian, it has to wait to be given when the beneficiary gains adulthood.
So, your niece still has the right on the benefits.
Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 01:02 pm Post Subject:
The place to begin is with the state's Secretary of State. If life insurance money was not paid to the beneficiary within a limited period of time, it must escheat to the state, which will hold the money until the rightful claimant comes along with proof of their claim.
If your niece was the only beneficiary of the life insurance policy then I don't think her mother could've taken the money.
Mona needs to think again. If an adult, such as the child's mother, presented the claim on the child's behalf, the insurance company most likely would have paid the money "for the benefit of" the minor to that adult. If the adult used the money for his/her own benefit, and not that of the child, then the child would have a claim against the adult, even today, if she just now discovered what had happened two decades ago.
The situation is very complex. It may take some extra effort to uncover what happened. You might want to contact our member "InsInvestigator" for more advice.
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