Vasconi v. Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

O’HERN, J.

Over the past twenty years, one of the most consistent statistics in America has been the rising divorce rate. In turn, a sad, but familiar, scenario has arisen. Following a bitter divorce, a settlement agreement divides the marital property, with a life insurance policy being awarded to the insured. The policy, however, names the ex-spouse as beneficiary. The insured then remarries, but dies unexpectedly without completing the necessary procedures for changing beneficiaries. The insured’s estate claims the policy proceeds. Despite the *340change…