MetLife Adds Estate Resolution Services to Group Life Plans

June 30, 2008 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - MetLife announced that it has enhanced its group life benefits portfolio by adding estate resolution services as a standard feature to its supplemental Term Life, Group Universal Life (GUL), and Group Variable Universal Life (GVUL) insurance coverages in those states that have approved the feature.

MetLife Estate Resolution Services can help alleviate the administrative and financial burden of probating an employee’s estate, according to a MetLife news release. Probating an estate can take from six to nine months to complete depending on the size of the estate, the company said.

With MetLife Estate Resolution Services, offered through Hyatt Legal Plans, executors and administrators will have access to the following comprehensive services by an attorney (certain exclusions apply):

  • Legal representation from the attorney of their choice. The attorney fees are fully covered when using a participating Hyatt Legal Plans attorney. Attorney fees for a non-participating lawyer are reimbursable up to a scheduled amount.
  • Preparation of documents and representation at court proceedings needed to transfer the probate assets from the insured’s estate to his or her heirs.
  • The completion of correspondence necessary to transfer non-probate assets, such as proceeds from insurance policies, joint bank accounts, stock accounts or a house; and
  • Associated tax filings.

The Estate Resolution Services feature is not currently available in all states and availability is subject to regulatory approval. Where available, the new feature will be effective for new and renewing business in 2009 for employers with over 500 eligible employees.

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