Court rules estranged wife entitled to life policy proceeds
April 2, 2014 by Steven A. Meyerowitz
A federal district court in Pennsylvania has ruled that the estranged wife of a doctor who committed suicide was entitled to the proceeds of a life insurance policy on his life, notwithstanding his attempt to remove her as beneficiary, where the couple previously had reached a marital settlement agreement that allocated the policy to her.
The Case
After Kelly O. Justofin married Dr. Christopher D. Justofin, New York Life Insurance Company issued a life insurance policy on the life of Dr. Justofin with Ms. Justofin as the primary beneficiary.
In February 2013, the Justofins, who had become estranged, jointly executed a marital settlement agreement that contained a section that set forth the various types of marital property the couple owned and designated the assets that should belong to each party.
