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Cal. Probate Code § 252 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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A named beneficiary of a bond, life insurance policy, or other contractual arrangement who feloniously and intentionally kills the principal obligee or the person upon whose life the policy is issued is not entitled to any benefit under the bond, policy, or other contractual arrangement, and it becomes payable as though the killer had predeceased the decedent.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 19 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1945–2025 · leading case: Nationwide Life Ins. v. Richards, 541 F.3d 903 (9th Cir. 2008).
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Nationwide Life Ins. v. Richards, 541 F.3d 903 (9th Cir. 2008). · cites it 2× “California Probate Code § 252 provides that: "[a] named beneficiary of a bond, life insurance policy, or other contractual arrangement who feloniously and intentionally kills the principal obligee or the person upon whose life the policy is issued is not entitled to any benefit…”
In Re Est. of Mueller, 655 N.E.2d 1040 (Ill. App. Ct. 1995). · cites it 2× “Appellants rely initially on Section 252 of the California Probate Code, entitled "Life Insurance and other beneficiary designations," (Cal.Prob.Code § 252 (West 1991)), and its accompanying Law Revision Commission Comments.”
People v. Jessee, 222 Cal. App. 4th 501 (Cal. Ct. App. 2013). “Code, § 251); and (c) the proceeds of life insurance and similar contracts (Prob. Code, § 252). For all of these purposes Sandra is deemed to have predeceased Jack.”
State Farm Life Ins. v. Pearce, 91 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 8245 (Cal. Ct. App. 1991). · cites it 2× “) [3] Probate Code section 252 was enacted in 1984; it reads as follows: "A named beneficiary of a bond, life insurance policy, or other contractual arrangement who feloniously and intentionally kills the principal obligee or the person upon whose life the policy is issued is…”
Farmers New World Life Ins. v. Rees, 219 Cal. App. 4th 307 (Cal. Ct. App. 2013). “” Given that, at the time Farmers initiated the interpleader action, Frank was a suspect in his wife’s homicide, and thus might not have been entitled to the policy benefits based on Probate Code section 252, the proceeds of Rosamaria’s policy had not necessarily, as Frank…”
Principal Life Ins. v. Peterson, 156 Cal. App. 4th 676 (Cal. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 2× “Probate Code section 252 provides that when the named beneficiary of a life insurance policy “feloniously and intentionally kills” the person whose life is insured, the beneficiary “is not entitled to any benefit under the .”
Maud v. Catherwood, 155 P.2d 111 (Cal. Ct. App. 1945). “” (Prob. Code, § 252.) If the relationship arises through collateral consanguinity the degree likewise is established by counting the degree from the common ancestor (§ 253).”
Gerald Hughes Patrick Hughes v. William Wheeler, Sr., 364 F.3d 920 (8th Cir. 2004). “” Cal. Prob.Code § 252. By its terms this section applies only to a policy on the life of the victim.”
Zielinski v. Henke, 275 Ill. App. 3d 128 (Ill. App. Ct. 1995). · cites it 3× “Appellants rely initially on section 252 of the California Probate Code, entitled "Life Insurance and other beneficiary designations” ( Cal. Prob. Code § 252 (West 1991)), and its accompanying law revision commission comments.”
MacPherson-Pomeroy v. North Am. Co. for Life & Health Ins. (E.D. Cal. 2022). · cites it 7× “) North American impliedly concludes that the uncertainty 10 regarding the incomplete investigation and existence of contingent beneficiaries could possibly 11 implicate California Probate Code § 252 thus warranting the use of the interpleader procedure.”
United Investors Life Ins. v. Donna Grant, 387 F. App'x 683 (9th Cir. 2010). “California law requires life insurance proceeds to be paid “as though the killer had predeceased the decedent,” Cal. Prob.Code § 252, meaning that if Ms.”
In Re Peterson, 67 Cal. Rptr. 3d 584 (Cal. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 2× “Probate Code section 252 provides that when the named beneficiary of a life insurance policy "feloniously and intentionally kills" the person whose life is insured, the beneficiary "is not entitled to any benefit under the .”
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