Illinois slayer statute: Life insurance benefits

Illinois law prohibits a slayer from profiting from a killing by obtaining life insurance benefits. The Illinois slayer statute provides:

a “person who intentionally and unjustifiably causes the death of another shall not receive any property, benefit or other interest by reason of the death, whether as heir, legatee, beneficiary, joint tenant, survivor, appointee, or in any other capacity.”

The public policy benefit is obvious: those who intentionally kill an insured should not profit financially by receiving life insurance proceeds. The funds will typically go to the estate of the insured. Also, federal courts have held that the prohibition applies also to ERISA policies.