What happens to my spouse rider in my life insurance policy after divorce?
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Jeffrey Johnson is a legal writer with a focus on personal injury. He has worked on personal injury and sovereign immunity litigation in addition to experience in family, estate, and criminal law. He earned a J.D. from the University of Baltimore and has worked in legal offices and non-profits in Maryland, Texas, and North Carolina. He has also earned an MFA in screenwriting from Chapman Univer...
Jeffrey Johnson
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Chris is the founder of Abrams Insurance Solutions and Marcan Insurance, which provide personal financial analysis and planning services for families and small businesses across the U.S. His companies represent nearly 100 of the top-rated insurance companies. Chris has been a licensed life and health insurance agent since 2009 and has active insurance licenses in all 50 U.S. states and D.C. Chr...
Chris Abrams
Updated July 2023
A spouse rider is a death benefit for a spouse that is part of an existing policy rather than a policy of its own. After a divorce, there is no longer any spouse to be covered by the rider so it would lapse (you’ll likely need to send your insurance company a copy of your divorce decree to eliminate the provision). Your premium will be reduced after the lapse and you would no longer receive a death benefit if your former spouse should pass away
If your former spouse needs life insurance, take a look at your individual policy to find out if there are any conversion provisions that he or she can take advantage of.
If you have a child rider, there would be no change to the rider as a result of your divorce.
Case Studies: Spouse Rider in Life Insurance Policy After Divorce
Case Study 1: Lapsed Spouse Rider
John and Jane are married and have a joint life insurance policy with a spouse rider. Unfortunately, they decide to get divorced. After the divorce is finalized, John contacts the insurance company and provides a copy of the divorce decree. As a result, the spouse rider in their life insurance policy lapses since there is no longer a spouse to be covered. The premium is reduced accordingly, and John no longer receives a death benefit if Jane were to pass away.
Case Study 2: Conversion Provision for Former Spouse
Sarah and David also have a joint life insurance policy with a spouse rider. However, they go through a divorce. Sarah reviews the policy and discovers a conversion provision that allows the former spouse (David) to convert the rider into a separate policy if he wishes to maintain life insurance coverage. David decides to exercise this option and converts the rider into an individual policy, ensuring he remains protected.
Case Study 3: No Change to Child Rider
Lisa and Michael have a life insurance policy that includes a child rider. Despite their divorce, the child rider remains unaffected. The divorce does not impact the coverage provided by the child rider, and Lisa and Michael can continue to ensure the financial security of their children.
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