“Only under limited circumstances will a designated beneficiary of an insurance policy be denied the right to receive the insurance proceeds. Accordingly, agents who learn of an insured’s marriage or remarriage should alert those clients that marriage, by itself, will not in most states result in an automatic change of beneficiary to the insured’s new spouse—but the result may vary from state to state.  The best practice upon impending marriage (or divorce or separation) is to review the client’s situation and implement desired changes as quickly as possible—using the insurer’s specified procedures and meticulously documenting the client’s intention.”

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