Businesses often purchase life insurance on key employees and owners. It is important for businesses to keep track of life insurance policies and business ownership documentation. Unlike individually owned policies, business owned policies are affected through business ownership and shareholder changes, business dissolution, and other factors. Case in point, during the 1970's a small business purchased a life insurance policy for its owner through MetLife. The business was dissolved in 1975. In 2000, Metlife converted from a mutual insurer owned by its policyholders to a publicly traded company. This meant the policyholders were entitled to cash. In this case, it meant nearly $200,000. Since Metlife could not locate the dissolved business, the money was given to the State. The widow of the small business, then 80 years old, discovered the money was being held by the State and filed a claim. Her claim was denied because she could not provide adequate proof that she was indeed the owner of the policy. The claim was denied despite the widow showing documentation about the family's ownership and status as corporate officers of the dissolved corporation. A Court of Appeals agreed with the State. However, the court did leave an opening for recovery by stating that historic shareholders may be allowed to recover the proceeds. As this case demonstartes, a business that is dissolved may encounter problems when attempting to claim life insurance proceeds on a key employee or owner if all the paperwork is not in proper order.
You can reach Life Insurance Claims Lawyer J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by dialing his direct number at (786) 272-5841, calling the main office at (305) 461-1095, or Toll Free at 1 (866) 71-CLAIM or email J.P. directly at [email protected].
