Washington divorces are complicated enough, but couples going through them should take note of the fact that there may be issues beyond property division, custody and child support. People must be aware of the fact that life insurance in a divorce can be an issue, especially when there are situations where one spouse is responsible for providing certain things for the children or even paying alimony.
It is logical that there would need to be arrangements to provide for the children if one parent passes. Not only is there child support, but there may also be expenses of health insurance and even college expenses. The parties will have to try to figure out how much it will cost to raise the children until they get older and then decide the proper amount of life insurance that would be necessary to cover those expenses.
Life insurance is not a cut-and-dry calculation, and the premiums can increase as one gets older. In addition, the costs of raising children increase as does the cost of college tuition. Thus, there is much room for disagreement when it comes to the necessary area of life insurance. Nonetheless, it is prudent to include this term in the divorce agreement to give stability and continuity for the children.
A family law attorney might advise their client about how best to deal with these complicated issues that involve life insurance. There are many different ways to deal with this subject, and an attorney may be able to contribute ideas to make sure that the children are protected. A professional may take some of the mystery and frustration out of dealing with an issue that could cause headaches even after many of the major issues have already been settled.