State Exemption Statute

Definition of "State exemption statute"

Laws in most cases protecting life insurance policies from an insured's creditors. These laws typically exempt death benefit proceeds and policy cash values from attachment by creditors, particularly if the beneficiary is a spouse or child of the insured. Many exemption laws have limits, with all insurance proceeds over a certain amount, say $20,000, available to the insured's creditors. In some states, endowment and ANNUITY policies are granted less protection from creditors than ORDINARY LIFE INSURANCE because such policies are often used as investment vehicles.

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

Loss of a key person due to death, disability, sickness, resignation, incarceration, or retirement. Because of the expertise of such an individual, there could be a loss of income, market ...

Classification of occupations according to the degree of risk inherent in that occupation. ...

Quality of being useful. Risk diminishes maximum utility in society because resources gravitate to activities, businesses, and investments that are least risky. By absorbing or protecting ...

Rate of increase in asset value. ...

Option clause in a disability income policy that the insured can exercise that would permit the insured the right to purchase additional limits of coverage regardless of the insured's ...

Deduction allowed for gifts and bequests to a spouse for federal estate and gift tax purposes. Under the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 (ERTA), the deduction became unlimited. Prior to ...

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

Individual added to a life insurance policy other than the insured named in the policy. For example, an insured father can have a dependent son and daughter added to the policy as ...

Policy that provides an income for life to the primary beneficiary upon the death of the insured. The face amount of the policy becomes payable to the secondary beneficiary upon the death ...

Popular Insurance Questions