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Katherine C. Pearson, Editor, and a Member of the Law Professor Blogs Network on LexBlog.com

California Supreme Court Rules Frankie Valli’s Life Insurance Was Community Property

May 16, 2014

Okay, let the song metaphors begin, and please, let’s sing them with a nice falsetto. 

Singer Frankie Valli, now age 80, has been starring in a long-running divorce proceeding.  (He and his wife separated in 2004).  On May 15, it was the California Supreme Court harmonizing with him over his claim that a $3.75 million life insurance policy he purchased in 2003 with “community funds,” and on which he named his then-wife as the sole beneficiary, retains its character as community property.  In other words, the surrender value of the policy ($400,000) is not entirely hers to keep. 

Here’s a link to In re Marriage of Frankie and Randy Valli

I’ll start with “Big Girls Don’t Cry” — or maybe “My Eyes Adored You.”