Life Insurance in case of death of parent

[Pearl72]

What is the name of your state? Colorado
I have asked that my ex take out a life insurance policy on himself in case anything should happen to him, and have our daughter be the beneficiary of that policy. He has flat out refused. Is this really asking too much of him? I just want to make sure that my daughter is taken care of. I myself have a life insurance policy on myself for that purpose, in case anything happens to me. What would the proper amount be? He has a wife, and 4 other kids - most of them grown at this point, and the youngest of his will be out of the house in another 3 years. Our daughter we had together is 4 1/2. Is this really asking to much of him to do this for the sake of our daughter?

[haiku]

in the event of his death, your daughter would be eligible for social security benefits.

[ceara19]

Originally Posted by Pearl72

What is the name of your state? Colorado
I have asked that my ex take out a life insurance policy on himself in case anything should happen to him, and have our daughter be the beneficiary of that policy. He has flat out refused. Is this really asking too much of him? I just want to make sure that my daughter is taken care of. I myself have a life insurance policy on myself for that purpose, in case anything happens to me. What would the proper amount be? He has a wife, and 4 other kids - most of them grown at this point, and the youngest of his will be out of the house in another 3 years. Our daughter we had together is 4 1/2. Is this really asking to much of him to do this for the sake of our daughter?

Are you going to pay the premiums? If not, then yes, it's too much to ask.

[LdiJ]

Originally Posted by ceara19

Are you going to pay the premiums? If not, then yes, it's too much to ask.

My ex and I both carry life insurance with our daughter as the beneficiary. We just think its the responsible thing to do.

However, dad may feel that he already has sufficient life insurance, and that the child is already properly provided for in the event of his death. I do agree that offering to pay the premiums herself (and being the owner of the policy in that case) is probably a fair way to handle it....and may overcome dad's objections.

[rmet4nzkx]

You have ongoing issues with the child's father and issues in your life as well so it is natural that dad would not agree to funding life insurance that he would see you as benifiting from instead of the child as the child's guardian. There is Social Security available at no additional cost should dad die.

There are a number of low cost term policies available that you could fund your self without his objection, but don't expect him to pay for it or submit to a health exam to get one.

[nextwife]

OUt of curiousity, have you actually PRICED premiums for a guy of his age? If you are twenty years younger, you can't compare what you pay to what he'd pay.

Honestly, my husband is an "older dad (age 59, we have an 8 year old)", and we who choose to have kids with older dads just have to do so knowing we should plan on carrying a lot more financial responsibility. because they have more possibility of health or other issues that may interfere with their continued ability to assist financially with our kids. Additionally, they are at or near retirement age when our kids are college age, so we need to plan they may have a diminished ability to even pay CS by that age, much less assist with college. So we need to also plan that accordingly. FYI - it is I who bought, owns the policies and pays the premiums on the life policies against my child's father.

[MrsK]

You have no right to demand that of him. The best you can hope for is him allowing you to get one that YOU pay for and I would not count on that one.

And, as others pointed out, you may get social security.

Your best bet would be to either open an "In case your dad dies" savings account or some type of investment for your child because if/when he dies you alone will be responsible for supporting the child.

[haiku]

heh, these questions always reminds me of when my husbands ex wanted a milllion dollar policy on him**************we were in fear of his life. If a judge had made him get even the smallest policy on him, we would have had to spend the duration of the policy looking under our car for suspicious objects, and hiring a royal taste tester.....

needless to say, when he requested the same from her the matter was dropped.

but honestly once parents divorce I think it is up to the individual to get and finance thier own insurance, if thats what they desire, they should not be forced.

[ceara19]

Originally Posted by rmet4nzkx

You have ongoing issues with the child's father and issues in your life as well so it is natural that dad would not agree to funding life insurance that he would see you as benifiting from instead of the child as the child's guardian. There is Social Security available at no additional cost should dad die.

There are a number of low cost term policies available that you could fund your self without his objection, but don't expect him to pay for it or submit to a health exam to get one.

Actually, you can't take out life insurance on a person with out thier approval (unless it is for a minor). So, even if she pays for she'll need an ok from the ex.

[Nocgirl]

I agree this is not a reasonable request. CS stops when he dies, then SS benefits pick up. That is what Social Security is for.

[Lisabyday]

There are term life insurance policies that the poster may get without getting any approval from the father. The amount of the policy is limited. I don't think it is too much to ask of him to provide a life insurance policy but evidently he does.

[justalayman]

Originally Posted by ceara19

Actually, you can't take out life insurance on a person with out thier approval (unless it is for a minor). So, even if she pays for she'll need an ok from the ex.

Yes you can if there is a financial interest involved.

Talk to an insurance agent to see if you can purchase one based upon the relationship between your daughter and her father. If you recieve financial support from him you may be able to purchase one with yourself as beneficiary as well.

Obviously in either case here, you would have to pay for the insurance.

[ceara19]

Originally Posted by Lisabyday

I don't think it is too much to ask of him to provide a life insurance policy but evidently he does.

If he is paying CS, why should he also be responsible for life insurance premiums in case he dies? The child will get social security benefits if he dies before the child turns 18. If he dies before the child turns 16 MOM will also get a SS check for HER:

Benefits for surviving divorced spouses
If you have been divorced, your former wife or husband who is age 60 or older (50-60 if disabled) can get benefits if your marriage lasted at least 10 years. Your former spouse, however, does not have to meet the age or length-of-marriage rule if he or she is caring for his/her child who is under age 16 or who is disabled and also entitled based on your work. The child must be your former spouse’s natural or legally adopted child.

Survivors benefits paid to a divorced spouse will not affect the benefit rates for other survivors getting benefits.


In most cases the SS death benefits are MORE than the CS the parent was paying before they died.

[haiku]

ya know, why is life insurance only important, once that person becomes a "steady paycheck"? Why was not having any not a big deal when you were together? Dead is dead, married/committed or not**************

Life insurance should have been bought on both parents at the time of the childs birth were it so gosh darned important to the future of the child. if it wasn't, then that ship has sailed, and it shouldn't be part of a court order IMO.

termlife for 250,000 can be bought for as little as 10 bucks a month, if you are a healthy nonsmoking 30 year old for example, you can extend the term for 18 years for just a tiny bit more, and your children and S/O are covered for the time the children are minors.

[nextwife]

THis dad had grown kids. So he's maybe 50. THat's about $150,000 of coverage at, say, $55 a month. A big difference over what Mom's life insurance probably costs.