Banta, CA Estate Planning Law Firms & Lawyers

It is possible that your father intended to leave CD money to 4 siblings and the nephew, and the policies (life?) to 4 siblings and you. A court would probably have to determine what the decedent's intent was, unless there is a will that spells it all out.

Your mother's death alone would not cause your father's life insurance to lapse. Failure to pay a premium could cause the policy to lapse. Your mother's death resulted in you becoming the beneficiary, because you were designated as the contingent beneficiary. It is not clear why (or even whether) the policy lapsed. If the policy did not lapse, then you are still the beneficiary. Furthermore, if your father's letter attempted to designate you as the beneficiary, then that is not a change at all, because you were already the beneficiary. If your father's letter attempted to designate your brother as the beneficiary, then the validity of the letter as a change of beneficiary would depend on what the policy itself says regarding the appropriate ways in which a beneficiary may be designated.