
The absolute assignment of a life insurance policy results in ownership transfer, which is a significant change for the policyholder and the assignee.
The assignee gains the rights and benefits of the policy, including any cash value and death benefit.
This transfer of ownership can have tax implications, as the assignee is now responsible for reporting and paying taxes on any policy proceeds.
The policyholder's estate is also affected, as the assignment may impact the distribution of assets in the event of their passing.
Definition
The absolute assignment of a life insurance policy is a straightforward process that involves signing over your entire policy to another person or entity, known as the assignee. They take full ownership of the policy and are held liable for any premiums.
The assignee has the authority to change or designate new beneficiaries, and they can also make all decisions regarding the underlying assets within the investment. This can be a useful tool for providing collateral for a loan to a lender.
The person who is selling or gifting the policy, known as the assignor, continues to make payments on the policy. This is often the case when you're taking out a loan and the bank requires you to take out a life insurance policy and assign absolute assignment.
The assignee takes full ownership of the policy, including all interest, rights, and ownership of the asset. This means they have the right to make changes to the policy, such as changing the beneficiary or making decisions about the underlying assets.
Absolute Assignment in Life Insurance
Absolute assignment in life insurance refers to the transfer of all interest, rights, and ownership of the policy to another person or entity.
This decision is irrevocable, meaning it cannot be changed once it's in place, and it applies to both the present and future. The assignee takes full ownership of the policy, including liability for premiums and the authority to change or designate new beneficiaries.
The new owner of the policy can make changes to it, such as changing the beneficiary or making decisions regarding the underlying assets within the investment. However, they cannot eliminate the coverage of the plan.
You continue to make payments on the policy even after absolute assignment occurs, and it's often used in situations like taking out a loan where the lender requires a life insurance policy with absolute assignment.
Purpose
The purpose of absolute assignment in life insurance is to transfer the policyholder's rights and benefits to another party, known as the assignee.
This transfer of rights is typically done to secure a loan or to provide financial assistance to someone in need.
Absolute assignment can be used to secure a loan against the policy's cash value, allowing the policyholder to borrow against the policy's accumulated value.
The assignee becomes the new policyholder, taking on all the rights and responsibilities associated with the policy, including premiums and policy changes.
In some cases, absolute assignment can be used to provide financial assistance to someone in need, such as a family member or friend.
Benefits

Having an absolute assignment in life insurance can provide peace of mind for policyholders and their loved ones.
This is because absolute assignment allows policyholders to transfer the ownership of their policy to someone else, giving them control over the policy's benefits.
This can be a huge relief for those who are no longer able to manage their policy, such as the elderly or those with disabilities.
Absolute assignment can also help ensure that the policy's benefits are used as intended, rather than being squandered by someone who may not have the policyholder's best interests at heart.
For example, if a policyholder wants to leave their policy's benefits to their children, they can assign the policy to their children, giving them control over the benefits.
Insurance Policy Assignment
Absolute assignment is a crucial concept in life insurance that allows you to transfer all interest, rights, and ownership of your policy to another person.
This transfer is irrevocable, meaning it cannot be changed once it's in place, and applies to both the present and future. The new owner of the policy has the right to make changes to it, such as changing the beneficiary.
You continue to make payments on the policy, and the new owner cannot eliminate the coverage of the plan. One common use of absolute assignment is when you're taking out a loan and the bank requires you to take out a life insurance policy to cover the loan value in case you die.
Absolute assignment can also be used to donate the proceeds from your life insurance policy to a charity or award them to a specific purpose after your death.
Absolute Assignment Explained
Absolute assignment is the transfer of all interest, rights, and ownership of a life insurance policy to another person or entity, and it's an irrevocable decision that cannot be changed once it's in place.
The assignee, or the person receiving the policy, takes full ownership and is held liable for any premiums, as well as having the authority to change or designate new beneficiaries. This transfer applies both to the present and in the future, and it's essential to understand what it means to use absolute assignment before purchasing a life insurance policy.
You can use absolute assignment for various reasons, such as providing collateral for a loan to a lender or donating the proceeds from your life insurance policy to a charity.
How It Works
Absolute assignment is a transfer of all interest, rights, and ownership of a life insurance policy to another person.
You remain covered under the life insurance policy even after making this transfer, but the new owner has the right to make changes to it.
The new owner can change the beneficiary of the policy, for example, by changing it to their own name.
You continue to make payments on the policy after absolute assignment occurs.
This can be useful in situations where you're taking out a loan and the lender requires you to take out a life insurance policy with absolute assignment.
Key Points
The assignor, or the person selling or gifting the policy, is responsible for paying any outstanding premiums.
The assignee, or the individual or individuals receiving the policy, takes full ownership of the policy and is held liable for any future premiums.
The assignee also has the authority to change or designate new beneficiaries, giving them control over the policy's benefits.
This means the assignee is responsible for paying any premiums that come due after the assignment, so it's essential to have a plan in place for payment.
Legal Considerations

An absolute assignment of a life insurance policy can have significant legal implications.
You have no rights to the policy after an assignment, it's transferred entirely to the new owner.
The original policy owner is no longer responsible for paying premiums, but the new owner takes on that obligation.
The assignment is irrevocable, meaning it can't be undone once it's been made.
This means the new owner has complete control over the policy, including the right to change beneficiaries.
The original policy owner can't make any changes to the policy without the new owner's consent.
The new owner is entitled to receive any payments or benefits from the policy, including the death benefit.
The assignment is considered a transfer of ownership, and it's subject to state laws and regulations.
The new owner may need to provide proof of ownership to the insurance company to receive payments.
The original policy owner may still be liable for any unpaid premiums, even after the assignment.
The assignment can be made in a will or through a separate document, but it's always a good idea to consult with an attorney.
Conclusion
In practical terms, insurance companies may demand proof of claim validity from multiple claimants, including the original beneficiary and a subsequently designated beneficiary or assignee. They may bring both claimants into a lawsuit, deposit the money into court, and let them fight it out themselves.
Insurance companies often prefer to avoid paying out on uncertain claims, and instead opt for a court decision to settle the matter. This approach is rooted in the principle of not wanting to pay out at their own peril.
As Irwin M. Taylor writes, insurance companies frequently face conflicting claims from original beneficiaries and assignees. Rather than pay one claim at the risk of being sued by the other, they bring both parties to court.
The practice of insurance companies bringing claimants into a lawsuit is supported by various court cases, including Rayner v. Preston (1881) and Ecclesiastical Commissioners v. Royal Exchange Assurance Corporation (1895).
Sources
- https://www.brainscape.com/flashcards/chapter-5-17198396/packs/22440919
- https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/definition/absolute-assignment
- http://lifecreditcompany.com/meaning-absolute-assignment/
- https://www.pretected.com/what-is-absolute-assignment
- http://www.commonlii.org/my/journals/JMCL/2002/2.html
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