Merchant v. Merchant

Plaintiffs-appellants appeal as of right the court order dismissing their claim to ownership of life insurance proceeds.

Plaintiffs-appellants were the children of decedent, Eugene Merchant, and his first wife, Arlene, who were divorced on September 29, 1967. The decedent did not contest the divorce nor did he appear in court. Instead, after apparently being shown copies of the complaint and amended complaint for divorce, he signed a stipulation agreeing that Arlene Merchant could proceed with the divorce without further notice to decedent. Although the subject of insurance had not been…