What happens to the death benefit of a life insurance policy if the insured dies while committing a felony?

When an insured individual dies while committing a felony, the death benefit of the life insurance policy is typically not paid out. This is grounded in the principle of public policy, which generally prohibits individuals from benefiting from their own unlawful activities. Insurance contracts often include clauses that specifically exclude coverage in instances where the death results from illegal acts or felonies.

The rationale behind this is to discourage criminal behavior and prevent individuals from profiting from their wrongful acts. Insurers aim to minimize risk and uphold legal and ethical standards, which is why they might invoke such exclusions in their policies. Therefore, in the case of a death caused by a felony, it is unsurprising that the benefit would not be disbursed to the beneficiaries.