How May I Find Out About a Whole Life Insurance Policy Someone May Have on Me?

Updated on June 25, 2008
M.D. asks from Macomb, MI
12 answers

My father had me sign a life insurance document when I was eighteen which he said was just to cover funeral costs should I pass away. I signed the papers, not even reading them. I no longer have a relationship with my father however a few years ago before I cut off contact with him he mentioned he had a whole life insurance policy on me. He told me that it was left to him should I die and if he was deceased it would go to my uncle (his twin brother) and that if my uncle throught I was mature and responsible enough he'd give me the policy...since it's worth a lot of money. My father claimed he way paying a lot into it. My parents are divorced and my father's side of the family doesn't really have contact with him, he's pretty much isolated himself from everyone. How may I find out if such a policy does exist and given my father's previous life threats to me and dangerous nature I'm not comfortable with him having this policy. Is there anything I can do about it? Would it be possible since the policy is for my life to force my father to change it into my son's name?

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So What Happened?

Okay...

Wow, I'm overwhelmed by the warmth and abundance of responses. Thank you all!

My father is a very complex and confusing man. He's been violent but I don't know for sure if he's actually capable of murder. He's more of a manipulating type of man that would rather make someone suffer. He's not in my life, I had to distance myself; a decision I made when I got married. I just felt that even though I kept my father in my life out of pity for him it wasn't fair to ask someone else to do that too.

Since I can't do anything about the policy, I'm pretty sure my father's the owner, I just have to let it be. No one in my family really knows where my father is and he's made it clear he wants everyone to just leave him alone. My family members know, and have known, about this insurance policy. Should anything happen to me I know that I'm covered.

I have a feeling that as someone did suggest my father is using it as an investment. He does have a lot of money and if he can cheat or hide it any way possible he will! He's not a very honset man.

Thank you again for everyone caring. :)

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L.N.

answers from Benton Harbor on

You def. need to consult a lawyer. Not only is the policy in question, but the threats should be enough to warrant legal action. I agree that you should distribute MANY copies of a letter detailing the threats and the policy information among trusted relatives, including sending one to him so he knows that he is being watched. Hopefully it will serve as a deterrent to him, it would be much better to prevent his actions than to gather evidence later.

~L.

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M.P.

answers from Detroit on

If you have an insurance agent, they can check to see if there is insurance coverage on you, by using your social security number. The policy may have lapsed once you turned 18.

M.

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J.H.

answers from Detroit on

M.,
My mother has a similiar policy on my life. In reality, I've been told (my husband was a financial planner for a time - he's now a police officer... long story!) that this is a common investment for individuals with a good deal of money. It's a good, legal "tax shelter" and the advantage isn't really in the death benefit but it's intended to be a long term investment (as long as it's funded properly - and they're expensive to fund which is why it's better for those with more money). These policies tend to be expensive to fund so if (Heavan forbid) your father's intent was to threaten your life in order to cash out on an insurance policy, it would make more sense to purchase a term life insurance policy which has much smaller premiums for a much larger payout (at least in the short term). He likely honeslty bought it as a true investment option. I'm so sorry to hear of the trouble you're going through. If you are honestly afraid that he may act on some of his threats, I would suggest making a report to the police and letting your father know that you've done so. This way, it's in public record. Best of luck and hang in there.

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B.B.

answers from Detroit on

since it seems like from all the other responses that you can not "cancel" the policy... I would suggest writeing out a paper that says something to the effect of...
When I was 18 I was asked to sign ......etc, In light of recent events I want it to be noted that IF I die and there are unexplained events or actions involved with my passing away that I think my father may have ill intentions against me. In the case that he is no longer alive the policy was to be left to his brother--------.
signed and dated...

I would also have a lawyer send a certified legal letter to him asking that the beneficiary be changed to include your hubby and son so that the "investment" (If it still is in effect) wouldn't be lost and that because of family issues they would be covering the cost of the funeral. But he would also get back some of his "investment". Asking for a response on if its still in effect and also copies of the papers when the beneficiary is changed.

Do you remember what company it was thru? Perhaps calling them and asking if there is a policy on you may work. I know its tv and all but it seems like on tv the cops have some way of finding out about policies before they are "cashed" in...

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E.S.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Since he is the one who took out the policy, he is the policy holder. Only HE has access to it and there really isn't anything you can do about him being on the policy. To take him off of the policy would be to cancel it since he's the one paying the premium. Maybe contact a contract lawyer and see what they say.

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T.W.

answers from Lansing on

Where is everyone seeing that he threatened her?? She never said that!!!

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B.D.

answers from Detroit on

Hi M. D,
It sounds like your dad is the "owner" of the policy. If he is paying for it, he owns it. Unfortunately, at your age you didn't question what you were signing. If you really wanted to know, would it be in your best interest to just ask him? Unfortunately we have absolutely no control over what our parents request of us, especially since we think they have our best interest at heart. Pray for him, but I was drawn to your response because you parallel lives with my daughter who also has a NAVY huz-bend...she is in the process of divorcing him too, they have a beautiful son together, he has cheated on her through out their marriage, she is NOW ready to move on...this is her 2nd child, she will be 23 next month, her 1st child is not her husbands, but he accepted her, or so we thought...I think you have a lot in common with her, and if you are open for discussion, I can e-mail you her e-mail address...this is a small world, & you think you are sometimes in the world ALONE, but people are right next door going thru the same/similar things, I wish you well, take care, give your son a kiss...I have 2 beautiful grandkids Jaylen & Kahlil, they mean the WORLD TO ME!!!! God Bless & Keep You!
Sincerely,

B. C

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P.K.

answers from Detroit on

@ Tamara -

Toward the end of her post she says, "...given my father's previous life threats to me and dangerous nature I'm not comfortable with him having this policy."

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A.L.

answers from Grand Rapids on

HHHMMM... I think if it were up to me, I would probably contact a lawyer or even the insurance carrier. That sounds kind of weird that HE would have a life insurance policy out on you... I would definetly call one of the two I mentioned to see what they have to say. If he contacts you, I would be a little leary of the motive behind it. Good Luck!! Keep us informed of what your decision is.

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E.M.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Hi M.... A whole life policy is only worth anything IF the premiums are paid on time every month. Whole life offers a "savings" program but that doesn't start to gain any value until 2 full years of premium have been paid. At that time it only gains a little value at a time. Because your father is the "owner" of the policy, there really isn't anything you can do about it. If you have fears of harm you want to be sure to let other family members know of your fears and the policy in question. If the policy has only been in effect for four yrs, there isn't much value besides the policy maturity value. If it is a $50,000 policy then that is all it is worth and it can only be cashed in if you die. The "savings option" isn't worth anything because a whole life policy pays one or the other not both. You get the face value OR the savings value NOT BOTH. So, let your dad pay OUTRAGEOUS premiums for a policy that isn't gonna give him as much as he hopes for. I hope this helps. If you have any further questions feel free to send me a message and I will do my best to answer them.
Good luck... E.

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J.O.

answers from Detroit on

If your dad is the owner of the policy and he is making the payments there is not much you can do. Only an owner can get information on a policy. Now if you are the owner but he's just paying the premiums, you can cancel the policy or change the beneficiary.

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S.M.

answers from Saginaw on

Hello M., This is a very serious situation!! If your father has truly made treats against your life and he has a policy against you, I would strongly recommend that you get a personal order of protection against him in a court of law. The judge will then retrieve all live insurance policies that your father has against you. It this type of situation, only the judge could have the name of the benifactor on the policy changed since your father is the one who has paid for it. But a judge will not allow a financial gain to go to a person who has made threats against your life. Remember that you are a mommy now, so this is for the well being of your son to do this. God bless you!

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