Question:
Is the payment to beneficiaries regarded as part of the distribution of the assets of the deceased and so needs to be distributed according to the halocha? Perhaps it is actually viewed as a gift handed out before the person passed away, seeing that the payments into the policy are handed to the insurance company during his lifetime to be passed on to the inheritors.
Answer:
Hello,
Life insurance monies awarded by the insurance company are only given after the person has deceased, and not before, therefore they would be subject to the regular laws of inheritance. In fact, being that the money was not the deceased persons money before he died, the bechor will not get a double portion of it, and only the boys will inherit it. There is an option for a parent to give is daughters an equal part with the boys, and that is by making what is called a “shtar chatzi zachor”. Speak to your Rov about this.
Best wishes
