LNL--I also see your point about the CS issue, but what happens if she experiences something where you cannot take care of her? Or God forbid, something happens to your house that is not covered by insurance? Then you're out the equity AND CS. I would hate to see you barter this now, without knowing what the future might hold? Houses come and go, but people do not.
We have an annual review set for every April to discuss the following year's CS payments. Our mediator indicated that it is a typical procedure--taking into account any drastic changes in living circumstances and other things that are income related. Just my .02 worth.
Ellie--Actually, the life insurance issue is also SOP as well. Right now, my decree is very explicit with our arrangement, which will change if either of us remarry. When that happens, we will each take out policies at a certain level on each other, naming ourselves as beneficiary.
This is done to secure a replacement for CS funds if either one of us dies. Not naming the kids or in my case, the special needs trust, but me or him.
If there is any unusual circumstance surrounding the death, the insurance company will order their own investigation. So if LNL gets hit by a truck after an insurance policy is issued, her H will be the first suspect to be investigated. Each policy varies according to the underwriter, but there are laws that prevent disbursements from being made if murder is suspected.
Anyhoo, had my own decree not been explicit in keeping our beneficiary status as is, we would have taken life insurance policies out per above.
That's it for now. Back to work.
Betsey
"There are only 2 ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
Betsey 
