An Ex-Wife's Rights after the Death of a Former Husband

Does an ex-wife get her deceased, ex-husband's life insurance proceeds if he failed to change her as beneficiary of his policy after their divorce?

She may well do so.

Sometimes a life insurance policy may be the most valuable asset in an Illinois divorce.

At my Illinois divorce, I will be asking the judge to order my husband to pay maintenance to me, and to make me the beneficiary of his life insurance. I want ensure that the maintenance is paid.

I understand that my husband will be able to deduct his maintenance payments, paid to me, from his income taxes. In additional, I will have to report the maintenance payments I receive as income on my federal and Illinois state income tax returns.