Life Insurance, Retirement Benefits, Stocks
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Life Insurance, Retirement Benefits, Stocks
My father passed away yesterday. We are finding several life insurance policies, stocks, and pensions from the 70/80’s that were left to my mother who he divorced 21 years ago. Can she legally take care of these? He was remarried 12 years ago and divorced from his 2nd wife 11 days ago. It’s our understanding that she is filing the probate estate so we aren’t sure the best way to handle this.
Asked on July 13, 2019 under Estate Planning, Florida
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 5 years ago | Contributor
The things you describe, such as life insurance policies, retirement benefits, and stocks, go to whomever was designated on them as the beneficiary. A change in marital status will not affect that: if your father left your mother as the beneficiary, rather than changing the beneficiary designation as he could have done, then they will go to your mother.
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