Can I take out life insurance on my grandson?

Asked by: Reynold Oberbrunner  |  Last update: December 21, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (10 votes)

Buying a life insurance policy for your grandchildren is simple. Once you have the permission of their parents/guardians – or your grandchildren themselves if they are 18 or older – you can start the quote process with a company that offers policies for children under 18.

Can you take out a life insurance policy on a grandchild?

Grandparents can even get life insurance for their grandchildren. It's important to note familial relations aren't enough to get life insurance for a person. You need to show that you have insurable interest and consent.

Why would a grandparent get life insurance on a grandchild?

The purpose is to cover expenses related to end of life, like burial and funeral costs. Child death is almost always sudden and unexpected, and you don't want to deal with debt surrounding paying for things like a coffin or burial plot. That's why you'd want to have the policy.

Can someone take out a life insurance policy on you without you knowing?

Lack of Consent: Legally, you cannot take out a life insurance policy on someone without their knowledge and explicit consent.

Can a grandparent claim a grandchild on insurance?

In most states you do not need to have legal guardianship of your grandchildren to apply for health insurance for them. But, a few states will count your income when they decide if your grandchildren qualify.

Insuring Your Children Or Grandchildren

26 related questions found

Can you take a life insurance policy out on your grandma?

Life insurance is not just for insuring yourself. You can apply for a policy on loved ones to help protect yourself if their passing could impact you financially. For example, you may decide to get a policy for one or more of your grandparents.

Can I claim my grandson if he lives with me?

It can also be your younger sibling, niece, nephew, or a child legally placed with you by the court or other official agency. There is no requirement that you support the grandchild but the grandchild must live with you more than half the year and meet some other requirements.

Why is it legal to take out life insurance on someone else?

Simply put, you must prove that you rely on someone else while they are alive and would suffer financially if that person died. Read on to learn more about how to life insurance works and how to get a policy for someone else.

What are the rules for beneficiaries of life insurance?

Your beneficiary can be a person, a charity, a trust, or your estate. Almost any person can be named as a beneficiary, although your state of residence or the provider of your benefits may restrict who you can name as a beneficiary. Make sure you research your state's laws before naming your beneficiary.

Can a grandchild be a beneficiary of a life insurance policy?

Special needs grandchildren

If they are unable to make a living for themselves, leaving them assets and making them beneficiaries of life insurance are both options.

Can a grandchild receive survivor benefits?

Social Security will pay benefits to grandchildren when the grandparent retires, begins a period of disability, or dies, if certain conditions are met. Generally, the biological parents of the child must be deceased or have a disability, or the grandparent must legally adopt the grandchild.

Can I take life cover for my grandmother?

An immediate family member such as a spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandchild or grandparent is typically approved for insurable interest. Unmarried couples may be liable for insurable interest with proof of joint assets and wills. There needs to be a bond of affection and love between the insurer and the insured.

Is it normal for grandparents to have life insurance on grandchildren?

Buying life insurance for grandchildren is a thoughtful way for grandparents to help secure their family's financial future. This coverage could fund unexpected expenses, such as funeral costs, lock in lower premiums, and build cash value over time.

What can override a life insurance beneficiary?

A will cannot override a beneficiary designation because the policy is a contract between the person who purchases it and the issuer. The only way anyone can override a beneficiary other than the policyholder is if a court determines there's a conflict between named beneficiaries and state laws.

What is the age limit for child life insurance?

Children's life insurance is coverage that adults — usually parents or grandparents — purchase for minor children. Here are some key facts to know: Child life insurance policies can be purchased for children as young as 0-14 days and as old as 17.

Can you cash out a life insurance policy?

You can cash out a life insurance policy. How much money you get for it will depend on the amount of cash value held in it. If you have, say $10,000 of accumulated cash value, you would be entitled to withdraw up to all of that amount (less any surrender fees). At that point, however, your policy would be terminated.

How much is life insurance for a 70 year old?

How much does life insurance for seniors cost? A 10-year, $500,000 term life insurance policy for healthy, 70-year-old nonsmokers costs an average of $351 per month for men and $233 per month for women. Whole life insurance can be much more to account for lifelong coverage and cash value.

Do you pay taxes on life insurance?

Generally, life insurance proceeds you receive as a beneficiary due to the death of the insured person, aren't includable in gross income and you don't have to report them. However, any interest you receive is taxable and you should report it as interest received.

Can I take a life insurance policy out on my grandma?

To get life insurance for anyone, including grandparents or parents, you have to show you have an insurable interest. That means you would be financially affected if your grandparent were to pass away.

What disqualifies life insurance payout?

Life insurance proceeds can be denied. Some denials are legitimate, like in case of policy lapses, material misrepresentations, or exclusions in the form of illegal activities or war. In other cases, bad-faith insurers use elaborate methods to reject claims so they do not have to pay the proceeds.

How much is life insurance per month?

The average cost of life insurance per month is $26.

Can a grandparent claim a grandchild?

There are extensive IRS rules around who can claim a child as a dependent. The rules for a qualifying child dependent are: The relationship test: The child must be your son, daughter, stepchild, adopted child, or eligible foster child—or descendant (for example, a grandchild or great-grandchild).

Does Social Security count as income?

Your benefits may be taxable if the total of (1) one-half of your benefits, plus (2) all of your other income, including tax-exempt interest, is greater than the base amount for your filing status.

Can I claim my son even if he doesn't live with me?

Typically, the person with whom the children live over half the year will be able to claim the dependents on their tax return. But there may be a separate legal agreement stipulating the other parent may claim the children as dependents.