- Amount
- $200,000 (death benefit awarded)
- Counsel
- Interpleader Law
- Result for
- The insured's former wife, our client
- Case
- Protective Life Insurance Co. v. Tello
- Court
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- Docket
- No. 2:25-cv-10327-PA-MAR
- Decided
- June 17, 2026
- Issue
- Whether later beneficiary changes override a divorce judgment that awarded the policy to a former spouse
The insured’s divorce judgment awarded his $200,000 policy to his former wife as her separate property and required her to keep paying the premiums, which she did. Over the following years he filed beneficiary changes that cut her out, the last naming several of his children, a girlfriend and another former wife. After his death the insurers interpleaded the proceeds and were discharged, and the other claimants brought crossclaims against her.
We represented the former wife. No one disputed that the divorce judgment gave her ownership of the policy. The crossclaimants did not file the statement of disputed facts the court’s rules require, so her facts were treated as admitted, and the court refused to delay the ruling for more discovery without a specific showing. Their argument about premium payments could at most support a reimbursement claim by the estate, which was not a party.
The court granted summary judgment and held that our client was entitled to the entire interpleaded fund.
What it shows. A divorce judgment can control a policy even when the insured later files new beneficiary forms. Following the court’s procedures matters as much as the facts.
Read the court's order
For a detailed legal summary of this decision, see interpleader.com's decisions library.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This summary describes the court's ruling; it is not legal advice about any other case.
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