How can I reclaim life insurance benefits?

by bffty2 » Thu Dec 03, 2009 10:19 pm
Posts: 5
Joined: 03 Dec 2009

My parents divorced in 1967. Apparantly my father had a life policy naming us 4 children as beneficiaries. My mother apparaently continued the payments after they split. My father died in 1980. Us kids got a very small amount on the policy through his employ. Well my mother died two months ago. As I was cleaning out the house, I came upon some documents. There were four forms, each signed by us kids, signing our benefits of $5,900+ to my mother. There were also 4 check stubs from Prudential for payment. I never signed any such document, nor would I have given what my father left me to my mother. It is NOT my signature. Prudential was very neglegent in failing to authinticate the signatures and just gave my mother our money. My brother is also deceased now so it is just us three girls. My eldest sister doesn't want to desecrate my mothers name. Me and my other sister are pissed and want what was rightfully stolen from us. I called Prudential and they couldn't find the policy in their records. It has been 29 years since it was paid. They told me they would investigate and get back to me with their decision in 10-15 days. Decision?? Like they can tell me I am SOL or something? What are my recourses and would an attorney take the case on a contingency billing.?

Total Comments: 5

Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 11:35 pm Post Subject:

I came upon some documents. There were four forms, each signed by us kids, signing our benefits of $5,900+ to my mother.

Oh honey! So did your Mama forged these? I'm so sorry! :shock:

Prudential was very neglegent in failing to authinticate the signatures

I don't know that I'd say they were neglegent, who would expect a mother to steal from her own children?

It has been 29 years since it was paid.

So then how old were you kids when this was signed/paid?

Decision?? Like they can tell me I am SOL or something?

Well I suppose and bet that will be what happens..

What are my recourses and would an attorney take the case on a contingency billing.?

Well since you can't put your mother in jail, I don't know that anything will be done...or can be...Ask yourself this...if your mother were alive would you (for sure) call the police and prosecuting attorney, have her arrested and charged with felony forgery and theft? Think hard about it would you? Could you? What about your sisters and brother (assuming he was living at the time)?

Did you all never ask Mom about this? Your Daddy's been gone a long long time...and it never came up?

Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 02:33 am Post Subject: How can I reclaim life insurance benefits?

Let me enlighten you here. My father loved us. My mother never got over the break up so she did nothing but trash him to us - every chance she got. Never once did he say a foul word about her though. But she pushed it far enough into my head to make me dis-own him from the age of 15-23. Then one day a moment of clarity came to me and I realized that it was all lies to come between us. The worst part is when we did reconcile, I discovered he had terminal cancer. He died just 3 mos later. One of the first things my mother said was what a worthless bas---- he was. How he didn't even leave a decent life insurance policy for his children. So perhaps that answers your question of what I would do if she were alive. Bottom line is it IS NOT my signature. Therefore Prudential is liable due to failing to ascertain validity of the releases. They didn't even ask for any information. Just gave the money to my mother. 15 years divorced. I would like to think she invested it into something for us. Wont know that till the safe deposit box gets opened. Doesn't change the fact or make it better though.

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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:25 am Post Subject:

bffty2,

You most certainly can try, most attorneys take an inital consult for free, so shouldn't cost you anything to find out...but...maybe you should wait and see if your Mom did have your best interest at heart and invested the money. Certainly not the right way to go about it but maybe in her mind it was. Don't you find it odd that she would've kept all this 'evidence' of her wrong doing around for you to find?

So if I understood correctly you were over 21 when this happened correct?

Bottom line is it IS NOT my signature. Therefore Prudential is liable due to failing to ascertain validity of the releases

Well actually your Mom is the one in the wrong here. What exactly is this paper she signed? What does it say?

Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 06:27 pm Post Subject: How can I reclaim life insurance benefits?

It was a very simple form stating that I hereby consent to Prudential of America, that full proceeds undet the policy be paid to my mother. And that in doing so, covenent with the company to make no further claim under the policy. There were 4 of them, each bearing forgery of our signatures. At the time, my brother was alive living in Virginia. I was in Fullerton, Ca. and my sisters were in Granada Hills, Ca. Yet somehow, she managed to get us all to sign (5 days earlier dated on my brothers). Along with the bogus forms, there were four individual check stubs showing four sums of 5964 each paid out separately. There is no payee on the stubs. Only the insured name, policy no, check no and amt & date. Plus a breakdown of the disbursment calculation such as interest, etc. Apparantly a $20,000 policy split 4 ways with accrued interest since my father purchased it in 1945. So much for my "piece of the rock" lol.

Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 01:06 pm Post Subject:

:) Yeah, looks like no piece of the rock is left...

I'd raise a little cane with them...but I sincerely doubt you'll get anyway, however, having said that...you seem the 'dog with a bone' type..when the situation warrants it..so if can be done...I think you're then one to get r done :wink:

Let us know what their repsonse is, maybe we can provide some additional questions for you to present to them..

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