DEAR ABBY: I’ve recently discovered that my mother-in-law has two life insurance policies on me, neither of which I knew about, and one of which is close to 20 years old. I never asked nor authorized her to take out these policies, and I am very concerned.
We do not have a good relationship. She isn’t welcome in my life or our home because she is disrespectful and meddlesome. My husband has very little to do with her but doesn’t seem to be bothered by the fact that she took it upon herself to get these policies. Because she sells insurance, she makes it seem like it’s no big deal, but it is to me.
I have my own insurance and have for all of my adult life (I am nearing 50), and I’m appalled at the idea of her collecting a payout from my demise. She has never provided us a copy of the policies, nor do we know who the beneficiaries are. In fact, we know of their existence only because she let it slip in a conversation when we told her that because she is so rude and disrespectful, we are limiting our contact with her.
Am I crazy, or are my concerns justified? Is it even legal for her to have these? Why is she wagering on my dying before her? — LIFE INSURED IN NEVADA
DEAR LIFE INSURED: You have my sympathy. Your mother-in-law appears to be a handful. Discuss this with your own insurance agent. Explain what you have learned and ask whether what your mother-in-law has done is legal, because it may not be. That she is in the insurance business makes this even worse. That you became aware of this information during an “unpleasant” conversation strikes me as possible retaliation for telling her something she didn’t want to hear. She may even be lying about it. Your insurance agent can explain what remedies can be taken to correct this if it is true. If she is a licensed broker who has done something illegal, she could lose her license.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, California 90069. Copyright 2024, Andrews, McMeel Syndication.