Unmarried with Children

Pew Research Center analysis of 2017 census data found that one in four parents was unmarried, a sharp increase in recent years. More parents also have unmarried partners than in the past, which doesn’t change the fact that most parents — especially single ones — should have life insurance.

The Situation

Unmarried couples living together with their families have the same life insurance needs as married couples. And while there are a few different types of life insurance, they all share one ultimate benefit: The person (your significant other) or persons (children) named as your policy’s beneficiary will receive the same financial benefit as families headed by married couples.

Unmarried couples can name each other as beneficiaries if they can prove they have an insurable interest in each other because they provide financial or other support. Then, if the unthinkable happens to one of them, the other could keep their financial ship afloat with life insurance proceeds.

In contrast, single parents living with their minor children, but without a partner, have to depend on themselves. They likely need life insurance, and also the legal documentation that addresses their children’s care if the parent is out of the picture.

Determining Your Needs

How much insurance will you need? It depends on how many children you have, if they would need childcare, whether your surviving spouse or partner intends to work and more. Working single parents may have access to life insurance through their employers. In many cases, they may need more insurance than available through the workplace. You can work with an insurance professional to determine how much and what type of insurance is best with your situation.

There’s a life insurance policy for everyone. If your budget is tight, purchase what you can through an employer, who likely offers group life insurance at a lower cost than individual insurance. You might start with term insurance, which is pure life insurance. This type of insurance does not build cash value and premiums increase with time, but it does offer the all-important death benefit. You might look for policies you can convert to whole life insurance, which can accumulate cash value and features premiums that remain the same, should your financial situation improve.