State RegulationsFL specificDifficulty 2/5
A Florida man divorces, never updates his policy, and dies. His former wife remains listed as primary beneficiary and his two adult children are contingent beneficiaries. Who should receive the death proceeds?
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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why D is correct
Under Chapter 627, Florida Statutes, and related Florida law on beneficiary designations, divorce generally revokes the former spouse's primary designation, so the proceeds pass to the contingent beneficiaries - here the adult children - as though the former spouse could not take. The estate takes nothing because a valid contingent designation exists; the key point is that no change form was needed to remove the ex-spouse.
Why the other options are wrong
- A) Florida's divorce rule operates without any change form; the former wife does not take merely because she was never removed.
- B) The estate is not the taker; a contingent beneficiary designation fills the gap left by the revoked primary.
- C) There is no split; the revoked primary designation drops out entirely in favor of the contingent beneficiaries.
Memory hook
Ex drops out, contingent steps in - no form needed.