Sole Proprietor Life And Health Insurance

Definition of "Sole proprietor life and health insurance"

Coverage for the owner of a business. When a proprietor dies, debts of the business become the debts of the estate since in this circumstance the law recognizes business and personal assets as one. The executor is required to dispose of the business as quickly as possible. Life insurance can fund the disposition in several ways:

  1. If the business is transferred through a will, the life insurance's death benefit can be applied to the deceased proprietor's personal and business debts and estate taxes.
  2. If the executor conducts a forced sale or liquidation, a death benefit can be used to reduce or eliminate any debts. The death benefit can also be used as a source of working capital for interim financing to operate the business in the short run.
  3. If the business is to be transferred to a child or employee, the death benefit can provide funds to effect the transfer.
  4. If the business is to be sold to a key employee (s) through a buy-and-sell agreement, the key employee (s) usually has previously bought a life insurance policy on the sole proprietor and made all premium payments. The buy-and-sell agreement stipulates the formula to be used in valuing the business as well as other conditions of the sale. Upon the death of the proprietor and the sale of the business to the key employee (s), the proprietor's estate receives the cash amount according to the buy-and-sell agreement, and the key employee (s) receives the deceased proprietor's business.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Insurance Terms

Property and casualty coverage that indemnifies automobile dealers if a dissatisfied customer demands a refund within the period of time allowed under the Uniform Commercial Code. This ...

Portion of the death benefit in a life insurance policy paid upon the insured being diagnosed as having a terminal illness that will result in death within a year. ...

Form of insurance whereby the buyer (reinsurer) assumes the entire obligation of the cedent company, effected through the transfer of the policies from the cedent to the books of the ...

Obligations and responsibilities subject to evaluation, interpretation, and enforcement in a court of law. Casualty insurance provides coverage for an insured against a civil legal ...

Coverage that protects a business, up to the policy limits, if actions or non-actions of the insured result in a legally enforceable claim for bodily injury, property damage, or personal ...

Same as term Contractors Equipment Floater: form of marine insurance that covers mobile equipment of a contractor, including road building machinery, steam shovels, hoists, and derricks ...

Intentional injury caused by the person injured. For life and health insurance purposes, self-inflicted injury typically is not covered by accident policies, because it is intentional, not ...

Length of time required to amortize the excess expenses of acquiring a given group of life insurance policies. In acquiring a policy, a life insurance company may incur expenses (such as ...

Record of insurance policies sold to an individual. ...

Popular Insurance Questions