Suspicious change of beneficiary

[BillyJo]

20 days before my mother-in-law died the beneficiaries were changed on her insurance policies from all three of her children to my sister-in-law as the sole beneficiary. We have asked the insurance company to verify the signiture on the beneficiary change form. Beyond that what can we do? We know that my sister-in-law made the change but we don't know if she forged her mother's signiture or somehow got her to sign. My mother-in-law was terminally ill with cancer. She lived in New Jersey.

 

[ALawyer]

You quickly should get the advice of an attorney as this is VERY suspicious. Of course if it was a small policy, and the proceeds essentially repaid the sister for the time and money she spent caring for her, that would be easily understandable.

If there was a forged signature, or even if your mother signed it but you there was fraud, coercion, mistake or undue influence, or if your mother was not mentally competent at the time she signed the change of beneficiary (perhaps the pain medication impacted her) the change would be invalid.

The lawyer will get the facts from the sister and/or notify the insurance company. As the insurance company does not want o place itself in the middle, it would likely deposit the proceeds money into court and let the children (old beneficiaries) and the sister (new beneficiary) fight it out.