The Insured person and policy Owner are required to sign the life insurance application, so if one spouse is taking out a policy on the other, both need to sign. If a married person takes out a policy for which he/she is both Owner and Insured, the spouse does not have to sign the application.
If the spouse is POA, Guardian, or other legal representative for the Insured person, the spouse may need to sign for the Insured. Another situation in which a spouse might need to sign is if the Owner or Beneficiary of the policy is a trust for which the spouse is a Trustee.
Business Development Officer, T.D. McNeil Insurance Services, Fresno, California
Where a spousal signature is required in California is when the insured decides to change the beneficiary or surrender the policy. It is assumed that the policy was purchased using community property funds in California so the spouse that never signed the application still has rights and these are recognized when the owner tries to surrender the policy or change the beneficiary.
If the spouse is POA, Guardian, or other legal representative for the Insured person, the spouse may need to sign for the Insured. Another situation in which a spouse might need to sign is if the Owner or Beneficiary of the policy is a trust for which the spouse is a Trustee.