The Wisconsin Court of Appeals recently clarified that, in a Wisconsin divorce judgment, life insurance beneficiary designations end once the children reach adulthood. Parents after divorce often agree to maintain life insurance for their children, partly to cover lost child support if one parent dies.  In Brandt v Vazquez, http://www.wicourts.gov/ca/opinion/DisplayDocument.pdf?content=pdf&seqNo=110388, the Court ruled that because the insurance was intended to ensure support, once the children became adults and support was no longer necessary, the parent was free to name whoever she wished as a beneficiary.

This ruling is not particularly controversial.  However, it shows the importance of clear drafting in legal agreements.  The Court heavily relied on the specific language in the agreement to determine the parents’ intent.