How to Buy Life Insurance on Your Ex-Spouse

Picture this: It's Tuesday morning. You're rushing the kids to school before work. Your phone rings. It's your ex's mother. She's crying. Your ex had a heart attack last night. He didn't make it.

Your first thought isn't about the past. It's about next month's mortgage payment. The child support check that always arrived on the first? Gone. The alimony that covers half the utilities? Vanished. You're now a single parent with one income, full custody, and a financial hole you never saw coming.

This happens to thousands of divorced parents every year. Don't let it happen to you.

Why This Matters

Divorce ends your marriage. It doesn't end your financial obligations to each other—or to your kids. According to recent data, nearly 40% of divorced parents receive child support, and the average annual payment exceeds $5,000. For alimony recipients, that number can be much higher.

Here's what family court won't tell you: When your ex dies, those payments stop. Immediately. The estate isn't required to keep paying. You're left fighting creditors and relatives for whatever's left. It's ugly, it's stressful, and it leaves your kids holding the shortest straw.

Life insurance fixes this. But only if you do it right.

Step 1: Establish Insurable Interest

You can't just insure anyone. Insurance companies require "insurable interest"—meaning their death would cause you direct financial harm.

Good news: Court-ordered support qualifies. Whether it's $500 a month or $5,000, you have a legally recognized financial stake in your ex staying alive. Show the divorce decree to your agent. That's your proof.

Step 2: Get Their Consent

Here's the non-negotiable part: Your ex must agree to this. They'll need to sign the application and likely undergo a medical exam. No exceptions. This isn't a movie plot—you can't secretly insure someone.

Be honest about why you're doing this. "This protects our kids. If something happens to you, they don't lose their home." Most reasonable exes will understand. If they refuse? That's a red flag worth discussing with your attorney during divorce negotiations.

Step 3: Own the Policy Yourself

This is where most people mess up.

If your ex owns the policy and names you beneficiary, they can cancel it without telling you, change the beneficiary, borrow against the cash value, or let it lapse. You're left holding nothing.

Instead, you must be the owner and beneficiary. You pay the premiums. You control everything. They cannot touch it. This is called third-party ownership, and it's the only way to guarantee your protection.

Term life insurance works best here. A 20-year term covers you until the kids are grown. It's affordable—often $30–$50 monthly for a $500,000 policy. Permanent insurance is overkill unless your ex has serious health issues.

Step 4: Calculate the Right Amount

Don't guess. Do the math:

Annual support × years remaining = base number. Add college costs if you're counting on it. Add a buffer for inflation.

Example: You receive $12,000 yearly in child support for 10 more years. That's $120,000. Add $50,000 for college help and $30,000 for inflation. You're at $200,000 minimum. Round up to $250,000 or $500,000. It's cheap insurance for real peace of mind.

Real-Life Example

Sarah divorced Mike in 2019. Two kids, ages 6 and 9. Mike paid $2,400 monthly in child support and alimony. Sarah insisted Mike get a $750,000 term policy with her as owner. Mike grumbled but agreed.

Last year, Mike died in a car accident. Sarah received $750,000 tax-free. She paid off the house, funded college accounts, and didn't miss a single bill. The kids never felt financial instability during the worst year of their lives.

Sarah's foresight saved her family. Mike's initial grumbling? He later told friends it gave him peace of mind knowing his kids were protected no matter what.

The Benefits You Can't Ignore

Income replacement. The policy pays exactly when you need it most. Tax-free cash replaces lost support payments immediately.

Control. You own it. You control it. No surprises.

Estate protection. Without insurance, you'd have to sue your ex's estate for support arrearages. You'd wait months or years. With insurance, money arrives in weeks.

Negotiation leverage. Bringing this up during divorce shows you're thinking ahead. It often makes settlement easier because both sides know the kids are protected.

True closure. Knowing your children's financial future doesn't hinge on your ex's health gives you freedom to move forward.

Watch Out for These Traps

Trap 1: Relying on group life insurance through work. If your ex loses their job, coverage ends. You'll never know until it's too late.

Trap 2: Assuming divorce decrees are enough. Courts can't force dead people to pay. Your decree is worthless against a grave.

Trap 3: Forgetting about revocation laws. In many states, divorce automatically cancels beneficiary designations on policies your ex owned before. That's why buying new coverage after divorce—with you as owner—is critical.

Bottom Line

Divorce is hard enough. Don't make it harder by leaving your income unprotected. A $500,000 term policy often costs less than dinner out. It's the cheapest insurance you'll ever buy, and it might be the most important.

Your Next Step

Stop hoping your ex stays healthy. Stop trusting court orders to protect your kids. Take control today.

Call three independent insurance agents this week. Ask specifically about term life policies where you are the owner and your ex is the insured. Compare quotes. Get their consent. Get protected.

Your kids deserve a safety net that doesn't depend on luck. Build it for them. Today.

How to Buy a Life Insurance Policy on Your Grandparents

Last year, my neighbor Mark got a call that changed everything. His grandfather had died suddenly, and the family was staring at $14,000 in medical bills and funeral costs with no savings to cover it. "I thought Medicare paid for everything," Mark told me. "I was wrong." That $14,000 became credit card debt that his family is still paying off.

Why This Matters Right Now

Here's the truth nobody talks about: Medicare covers almost nothing for funeral expenses. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the median cost of a funeral with viewing and burial now sits at $8,300—and that's before you add cemetery costs, headstones, or outstanding medical bills. For most families, that number lands between $15,000 and $25,000 when all is said and done.

Buying life insurance on your grandparents isn't morbid. It's practical. It's loving. It's ensuring that when the worst happens, your family grieves instead of panicking about money.

The Legal Side Made Simple

You can't just insure anyone. Insurance companies require "insurable interest"—meaning your grandparent's death would create a financial loss for you. This is automatically satisfied if you're paying for their care, helping with living expenses, or would reasonably be expected to handle final costs.

How to Actually Do This

Step one: Have the talk. Sit down with your grandparents and be direct. Say something like: "I want to make sure your final wishes are handled without stressing the family financially. Would you be open to a small life insurance policy that I'd pay for?" Most grandparents say yes. They worry about being a burden.

Step two: Pick the right product. For grandparents, final expense insurance (also called burial insurance) is your best bet. These policies range from $5,000 to $25,000, have no medical exam for applicants under 85, and premiums never increase. Term life might work if they're under 70 and healthy.

Step three: Apply honestly. You'll need their signature and health information. Don't lie about smoking or health conditions—that's how policies get voided. Many companies now offer "simplified issue" policies with just a few health questions.

What This Actually Costs

A 72-year-old grandmother in good health might pay $55 per month for $10,000 in coverage. A 78-year-old grandfather with high blood pressure might pay $95 for the same amount. These premiums stay locked in forever.

The real benefit? When my client Sarah's grandmother passed last fall, the $12,000 policy paid within two weeks. "The funeral home was paid before I even got back to work," she told me. "I'll never forget that feeling of relief."

Do This Now

Waiting is expensive. Most policies have a two-year waiting period before covering natural death, so buying earlier means full protection sooner.

Here's your next move: Call a licensed independent agent who specializes in senior insurance. Ask specifically about final expense policies from mutual companies with A+ financial strength ratings. Get quotes from at least three carriers. Then call your grandparents tonight. Start the conversation. Future you will be glad you did. Start your free quote now.

How to Buy a Life Insurance Policy on Your Child: The Gift That Keeps Giving

I remember sitting at my kitchen table with my sister-in-law two years ago, watching her flip through mail from insurance companies she'd requested after her son was born. She looked overwhelmed. "I don't want to think about anything bad happening to him," she said, pushing the papers aside. "But I also don't want to screw this up."

That's exactly how most parents feel. We don't want to imagine worst-case scenarios, but we also know that being a parent means thinking ahead. So let me walk you through this clearly, because buying life insurance for your child might be one of the smartest financial decisions you ever make—just not for the reasons you think.

The Hard Truth Nobody Wants to Say Out Loud

Let's get the uncomfortable part out of the way first. If the absolute worst happens and you lose a child, the last thing you need is to worry about money. The average funeral for a child in the United States costs between $8,000 and $15,000. A life insurance policy ensures that while your world is falling apart, you aren't also drowning in debt or setting up GoFundMe pages. That alone is worth the monthly premium.

But here's what changed my mind about this entirely.

The Real Reason Smart Parents Buy Child Policies

The magic isn't in the death benefit—it's in the living benefits. When you buy a whole life policy on a child, you're building cash value that grows tax-deferred year after year. By the time they turn 18, that small monthly payment you barely noticed could have grown into a meaningful chunk of money.

I saw this play out with my college roommate, Mike. His parents bought him a small life insurance policy when he was three years old. When he graduated high school, the cash value had grown to nearly $15,000. He used it to buy a reliable car for college and had money left over for textbooks. He told me once, "My parents gave me a head start without me even knowing it."

That's what this is really about. You're not just buying insurance. You're opening a forced savings account that most adults wish they'd started decades earlier.

How to Actually Buy One Without Getting Ripped Off

You want a whole life policy, not term insurance. Term expires. Whole life builds cash value. You also want to look for something called a "guaranteed insurability rider." This is crucial because it lets your child buy more coverage later—regardless of their health—without a medical exam.

Here's why that matters. Statistically, one in three people develops a health condition by age 40 that makes insurance either unaffordable or unavailable. Asthma, diabetes, even something like anxiety can lock them out. By buying now, you're guaranteeing they can always get coverage later, no matter what life throws at them.

You can lock in a solid policy for $20 to $40 per month. That's less than most families spend on pizza each week.

Your Next Move

Don't let perfection be the enemy of done. Call a licensed insurance agent this week. Ask specifically about whole life policies for children with guaranteed purchase options. The peace of mind costs less than dinner out, but the gift it gives your child—financial flexibility and guaranteed insurability—could last their entire lifetime.

How to Buy a Life Insurance Policy on Your Parents

You hang up the phone and just sit there.

Not because the call was bad. It was fine. Same as always. Mom talked about the neighbor’s dog. Dad asked if you’re eating enough. But tonight, something stuck. His voice sounded thinner. She laughed, but it was slower.

And now you’re doing the math in your head. Not inheritance math. Funeral math.

Here’s what nobody tells you: 42% of adults over 60 own zero life insurance. Zero. Not because they don’t love you. Because they bought policies decades ago and let them lapse. Because they assumed they’d get around to it. Because the mailers all looked like scams.

My neighbor Carla found out the hard way. Her dad died of a heart attack in 2023. No policy. No savings set aside. She and her brother sold his truck to cover the burial. They got $4,200 for it. The funeral cost $8,900. She’s still making payments.

This is not about inheritance. This is about not going into debt to say goodbye.

Here is exactly how to buy a policy on your parents. No jargon. No sales pitch. Just the steps.

Step one: Bring it to the table.

You cannot sneak this. You need their signature and their Social Security number. You also need what’s called “insurable interest”—meaning you’d suffer financially if they passed. That’s almost always true if you help with their bills or expect to cover their final expenses.

Say this: “I’ve been thinking about what happens down the road. I want to make sure we’re all protected. Let me handle the paperwork.” They will cry. Let them. It’s not sadness. It’s relief.

Step two: Match the policy to their reality.

If your parent is over 65 or has high blood pressure, diabetes, or a pacemaker, stop shopping for term life. You want guaranteed issue whole life or final expense insurance. No medical exam. No needles. Just a few health questions. Coverage runs from $5,000 to $35,000. Premiums lock in for life.

If your dad is 58 and still runs 5Ks, grab a small term policy while his rates are cheap. But for most of us, final expense is the answer.

Step three: Own it yourself.

You pay the premium. You are listed as the owner and the beneficiary. This keeps the policy out of probate. It protects the payout from Medicaid recovery claims. And it means the money lands in your account within days—not months.

Why this matters right now:

The average American funeral now costs $9,995, according to the latest data from the National Funeral Directors Association. That’s up 12% since 2021. And that’s just the service. It does not include the plot, the headstone, or the luncheon nobody wants to coordinate.

Most families don’t have that cash sitting around. They put it on credit cards. They raid retirement accounts. They ask relatives for money they don’t want to ask.

This is not hypothetical. This is happening tonight in some family’s kitchen.

Here is what you do:

Call an independent life insurance broker. Not a call center. Not a website that sells your information to ten different companies. An actual human who works with multiple carriers.

Say: “I need final expense insurance for my mother. She is 71. Non-smoker. No major hospitalizations last year.” They will come back with options in under an hour.

You are not bothering them. This is their job. And frankly, it’s the only call you’ll make this week that actually fixes something instead of just managing it.

Do it today. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Today.

Because love isn’t a feeling. It’s a plan. Get a free quote now.

How to Buy a Life Insurance Policy on Your Spouse: A Real-World Guide

 The morning after my friend Dave died, his widow Lisa walked into her kitchen and found a half-empty coffee cup in the sink. He had been in a hurry. Left for work. Never came home. Three weeks later, the bank called about the mortgage. Two months after that, she sold the car he had rebuilt with his own hands.

Dave was 41. He did not have life insurance because he thought he had time.

Here is what nobody tells you: Buying life insurance on your spouse feels morbid until you realize the alternative is your children losing their home.

What You Are Actually Doing

You are not betting on death. You are buying time. Specifically, you are buying five to ten years of mortgage payments, grocery runs, and math homework help that your spouse will not be around to provide. That is what the check replaces. Not a person. A presence.

The Math You Cannot Ignore

Run this calculation tonight. Write down your annual household expenses. Multiply by seven. That is the bare minimum coverage number if you want to keep your life intact after a loss.

A 40-year-old non-smoker can lock in a 20-year, $500,000 term policy for roughly $32 per month. That is one dinner out. That is peace of mind priced lower than Netflix and DoorDash combined.

The Stay-at-Home Parent Blind Spot

Here is where families get it wrong. You insure the income earner but skip the parent who drives carpool, schedules dentist appointments, and remembers when the field trip permission slip is due. Replacing that labor costs $85,000 per year in many metro areas. Insure that contribution.

The Conversation Itself

Sit down at the kitchen table. Say this: “I need you here. But if something happens, I need to keep the life we built. Help me do that.” Then hand them the application. It requires their signature. Do not skip this step. Do not hide it.

One Smart Move Most People Miss

When you name a beneficiary, name a specific person—not your estate. If the money goes to your estate, it goes through probate. That takes months. The mortgage company does not wait months.

The Raw Truth

Half of American households would struggle to cover a $400 emergency. A six-figure funeral bill? A decade of lost income? Most families collapse under that weight.

Do not be most families.

Pull up an online calculator right now. Not tomorrow. Not when you have more time. Type in your spouse’s age, their health, and an amount that would actually cover your life. See the monthly premium with your own eyes.

It is lower than you think. The cost of waiting is higher than you can afford.

Get your life insurance quote now. Have the conversation. Protect your person today.

The Truth About Getting a Life Insurance Quote: Your Complete Checklist

Let's cut straight to the hard truth most agents and websites won't tell you: getting a life insurance quote is a game. The "price" you see first is often a best-case scenario, a lure. The industry banks on your confusion to sell you less coverage than you need or a more expensive policy than you should pay. With 106 million Americans admitting they need coverage but haven't bought it, often due to overwhelm, this checklist is your insider guide to beating the game and securing real protection for your family.

Your Raw, Step-by-Step Quote Checklist:

1. Lock Down Your "Why" with Dollar Signs. Vague promises won't pay the bills. Is your "why" replacing your $65,000 annual income for 15 years? Is it erasing a $300,000 mortgage? Name it. For example, Maria, a 34-year-old project manager, defined her goal: "Cover the mortgage and daycare for my two kids until my husband's promotion kicks in in 7 years." That specificity is power.

2. Calculate the REAL Number—Forget Online Calculators. They chronically lowball. Use the DIME method, but be brutally honest: Debt (credit cards, loans) + Income (years needed x income, use after-tax numbers) + Mortgage (full balance) + Education (current cost of college, inflated). For a family earning $80k with a $250k mortgage, the needed coverage often shocks them—it's regularly over $1 million.

3. Choose Term Length Based on Debt, Not Age. A 30-year term isn't automatically better. If your only major debt is a 15-year mortgage, a 15- or 20-year term could save you 40% in premiums. Match the term to your longest financial obligation.

4. Gather Your Digital Paper Trail. Before you click "get quote," have this ready:

   • Health: Prescription names & dosages, doctor's info, dates of any procedures. They willcheck.

   • Lifestyle: Driving record details (any tickets in last 5 years?), travel plans, hazardous hobbies.

   • Financial: Net worth, annual income, Social Security Number. Better-rated companies ask.

5. Shop Carriers, Not Just Prices. A company's financial strength (its A.M. Best rating) is non-negotiable. An "A" rating means they'll likely be there to pay the claim in 30 years. The cheapest quote from a "B" rated carrier is a risky bet.

6. Master the Medical Exam. This is where quotes explode. Schedule it for a Monday morning. Fast for 12 hours, drink only water, avoid coffee, alcohol, and heavy exercise for 24 hours prior. One cup of coffee can spike your blood pressure, potentially raising your premium class.

7. Decode the Riders. "Waiver of Premium" is often worth it. "Accidental Death" is usually a waste. If you have a family history of a specific illness, ask about a corresponding critical illness rider.

The benefit of using this checklist isn't just a lower monthly bill—it's peace of mind. You're not buying a policy out of guilt or fear; you're strategically building a financial foundation that ensures your family's home, dreams, and stability remain intact, no matter what. It turns an emotional burden into a manageable, powerful task.

Secure honest, tailored life insurance quotes from top-rated, stable carriers. Get your true quote today—your family’s security is worth precisely zero compromises.

Your Complete, Straight-Talk Guide to Life Insurance at 70 and Beyond

Let’s be brutally honest: the life insurance industry doesn’t make it easy for seniors. Ads are confusing, options seem limited, and you might wonder if it’s even possible or worth it anymore. Here’s the raw truth, stripped of the sales jargon: Yes, you can get coverage, and for clear, powerful reasons that put you back in control. At a stage when everyone seems to have an opinion about your finances, a life insurance policy is a private, powerful tool that does exactly what you want.

Forget the myths. According to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, a healthy 70-year-old can often obtain $100,000 in coverage. The key is understanding the why and the how.

Why It Matters: More Than Just a Funeral Policy

The most immediate benefit is covering final expenses. With the average funeral costing between $7,000 and $12,000, a dedicated policy ensures your children aren’t saddled with a bill during their grief. This isn’t about death; it’s about consideration. Think of it as pre-paying for your own send-off, exactly as you wish.

But the value goes deeper. This can be your targeted legacy tool. Do you want to leave $10,000 to your grandson for a down payment? Or ensure your daughter can take time off work to handle your affairs? A policy can fund that specifically, outside of the slow, public process of probate court.

Critically, it can equalize an inheritance. If you plan to leave the family home to one child, a life insurance payout can provide an equivalent cash amount to another, preventing family conflict. It can also settle lingering debts, like a car loan or leftover medical bills, so your estate is clean and your executor’s job is simpler.

Your Realistic Options: The Good, The Tough, and The Practical

You generally have two paths:

1. Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance: This is the "no questions asked" policy. They won’t require a medical exam or health questions. The trade-off? Higher premiums and a "graded death benefit," meaning if you pass away from natural causes in the first 2-3 years, your beneficiaries only get a return of premiums plus interest. After that, the full benefit pays out. It’s designed for those with significant health issues.

2. Simplified Issue Whole Life: This is often the sweet spot. You’ll answer a short health questionnaire (no medical exam), and if approved, you get immediate, full coverage. Premiums are locked in forever, and the policy builds a small cash value. For a healthy 70-year-old, this is typically the most cost-effective way to secure meaningful coverage.

A Real-Life Example:
Take Margaret, 72. She was healthy but worried about her diabetic husband having to pay for her final costs on his fixed income. She got a $50,000 simplified issue policy for about $180 a month. “It’s not cheap,” she said, “but it’s my money making sure he’s okay. That’s worth every penny to me.”

The Bottom-Line Truth
Shopping for life insurance at 70+ is about balancing budget with benefit. You will pay more per dollar of coverage than a 40-year-old—that’s the actuarial reality. But the peace of mind and financial utility it provides can be invaluable. It is not a necessity for everyone, but for those with specific debts, a desire to leave a cash gift, or a wish to prevent burden, it is a profoundly practical solution.

Ready to explore your options with clear, honest numbers? Let’s cut through the noise. Get your personalized, no-obligation quote today and see exactly what a plan for peace of mind could look like.