In Answer to your question
When you divorced, as you say, over 10 years ago, you no longer had a legal or valid insurable interest in his life. Life insurance is to cover funeral expenses, and burial, help make you feel better for your broken heart, and help cover bills that he was covering before he deceased. Do you have a broken heart? Did you bury him? Did you pay for his funeral? Did his death leave you with bills that he was covering or contributing to, up till his death?
When someone has a life insurance on someone they are no longer with, or have any valid interest in their lives, this life insurance claim becomes something no less than a contract on their head. Sadley, moral issues in our country have become so badly corrupted by greed over the past years, that insurance companies have even included specifications in their policies that make it very difficult for the insured to take themselves off a benificiary's claim.
Sure, you could try to claim, but it's highly unlikely that the insurance company will pay out, due to the divorce many years ago. You say you've been keeping up on the policy payments, so you should be able at least, to get a refund of those payments.
If you attempt to collect the full payout on this claim, and it does get paid to you, then you cannot be held responsible for any of his debts that were incurred after your divorce. I remind you that you no longer had any legal or valid interest in his life once the divorce was decreed. If you do this, and succeed, would it be morally acceptable to your peace of mind?
I leave you with that question to ponder.
