FRIENDS DH COMMITTED SUICIDE - URG LEGAL ADVICE RE LIFE INSURANCE IF CAN ADVISE PLEASE

[NotMyNameButHereForever]

Friends DH committed suicide last week. Obviously there are a 1000 shades and angles of shit to this but the one thats occupying her mind - and terror - right now (& the only one I feel I can somehow help with) is that the life insurance they each took out for house/mortgage won't pay out as suicide - can anyone please advise? Does life insurance pay out for beneficiaries if policy holder died by suicide?

TIA

I'm not an expert, but I don't think it does

How utterly awful for your friend, and her DH to have got to that point

I think it will depend on the policy. I know ours won't if the suicide happens in the first year the policy is taken out.

I'm so sorry for your situation. I think taking on the practical elements is a lovely thing to do

I think it depends. Can you get hold of the T&Cs?

It depends on the policy - most U.K. policies do, though generally not within the first 12 - 24 months.

Obviously reading the small print not what your friend wants to be doing right now, but that’s what she needs to do

On our life insurance there was a minimum term before the life insurance would pay in the event of suicide but I remember it being surprised that the term was as short as it was, just a year, I think.

Our policy pays out if the suicide happens after the first year. I think most do. Do you know who the policy is with and when it was taken out?

It depends on the policy. My husband's does after 2 years, some don't cover for suicide at all.

It really depends on the policy. Ours pays out if the suicide is more than a year after the policy was taken out. She needs to check the small print.

I’m sorry for her loss.

As pp said, depends on the policy.

A stand down period is usual, but there is a reasonable chance it will pay out if the policy is over a year old and all relevant conditions and history were disclosed at point of underwriting.

How old is the policy? Is it a standard uk insurance policy?

It very much depends on the policy. I know mine will, but not if either DH or I committed suicide within 24 months of the policy being taken out. Mainly to stop people who are suicidal taking out massive policies, not paying for them and then killing themselves.

She won’t know until she rings and asks - can you read the small print for her?

I'm so sorry. Is this a worry of hers or is it based on a conversation with the bank? Could she phone and give her permission for them to speak to you, as it could be upsetting for her?

I also think ours is dependant on time after policy is taken out. 12 months for us I think

My colleagues wife's policy paid out when she ended her life. The policy had been held for several years and she was diagnosed with several mental health conditions after taking out the policy. 💕

When my friend died it did not cover suicide, it left his children in a terrible position

It will depend on the policy so her best bet is to call the provider. They should be used to dealing with upsetting situations so will hopefully treat her sensitively

Thanks all. Mortgage is a decade old BUT it's a Buy to Let mortgage and they only moved into it themselves recently. I'm scared that as Buy to Let it the life insurance won't kick in at all and am having vicarious terrors re this.

@NotMyNameButHereForever

Thanks all. Mortgage is a decade old BUT it's a Buy to Let mortgage and they only moved into it themselves recently. I'm scared that as Buy to Let it the life insurance won't kick in at all and am having vicarious terrors re this.

Can you call them on her behalf? She would need to give them her permission for this to happen./

Otherwise, what she needs to do is make the call herelf.

They might let you speak on her behalf to them

It depends on the policy. Mine wouldn't for the first year after I took it out, but will after that. As others have said, if she gave permission then you may be able to speak to the insurance company on her behalf. I hope it works out that the life insurance will pay out for your friend, what a sad situation.

I don't think the mortgage is significant though as it is separate to the actual insurance. Some policies pay off the remaining mortgage and some pay a fixed sum. I knew someone who wasn't covered for suicide as they had a history of depression (though never suicidal). Sadly she will have to make the call/read the policy to find out.

I'm so sorry. My brother's insurance paid out and he hung himself - clearly suicide. I'm just so sorry x

So sorry to hear what you are going through. We went through the same earlier this year, and my friend’s DHs life insurance paid out.

They need to contact the insurance provider. I have been through this (lost a partner five years ago), there are so many factors that come into play.

Also, there are possibly scenarios where his employer will make a pay out too (Death in Service etc.).

Please do not make phone calls on their behalf because if you misquote anything that can be seen as fraudulent.

Let things settle, or ask them to engage with a solicitor to sort things out.

I am sorry you are all going through this.

The only way of finding out is to read the terms of the policy.

Oh, and there's usually a timeframe - if they've had the insurance since they took out the mortgage then they will most likely be OK and it will pay out - the clauses around suicide are to stop people taking out a policy for the short term investment should they choose to take their life. Ie. people were raising concerns that without the timeframe it was making it easier for people to take their lives thinking their families would be covered and financially secure.