Written by · Reviewed by Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver — licensed Financial Advice Provider (FSP712931) · Last updated 2026-10-20

Getting or updating life insurance after marriage

Marriage changes your debts, dependants and estate, so review your life cover. Check that cover matches shared debts, that each policy has the right owner and beneficiary, and that you have a new will: marriage revokes an earlier will unless it was made in contemplation of that marriage. It does not change who a life policy pays.

In short

Why review life insurance after getting married?

Marriage is often the point where two sets of finances become one. A new mortgage, a shared lease, a plan for children or a partner who cuts back work can all raise the amount of cover that makes sense. It can also change who should be paid. A review does not mean buying more cover; it means checking that what you have still does the job. Work through these in order:

  1. Debts and dependants. List shared debts and what each of you earns. If one of you died, what would the other have to meet, and for how long? Our guide to how much cover you need gives a method.
  2. Ownership. Who owns each policy?
  3. Beneficiary. Who is named to be paid?
  4. Will. Do you have one that is valid after the marriage?
  5. Structure. Should you hold two single policies or a joint one?

Does marriage change your will?

Yes, and this is the step most people miss. Section 18 of the Wills Act 2007 says a will is revoked if the will-maker marries or enters a civil union. The exception is a will that says, or whose circumstances show clearly, that it was made in contemplation of a particular marriage or civil union, and then that exact marriage or union must be the one that occurs (Wills Act 2007, version as at 28 October 2021). The Act lists other ways a will ends too, such as a later will or destroying it on purpose. Section 18 mentions marriage and civil union only, so ask a lawyer how it applies if you are in a de facto relationship.

Why it matters for insurance: if your will is revoked and you have no new one, your estate is divided under the Administration Act's intestacy rules. With a partner and children, for example, the partner takes the chattels, a prescribed amount (currently $155,000 plus interest) and one third of the rest, with two thirds held for the children (Community Law). That may not be what you want. Read making a will in NZ and book a lawyer.

Does marriage change who your life policy pays?

No. A life policy pays whoever the policy says. For Momentum's Quick Life, the benefit is paid to the nominated beneficiary listed on the policy schedule; if none is listed, or they have also died, it goes to the policy owner or their estate. Only the policy owner can nominate or change a beneficiary, using a change of beneficiary form. Momentum's Funeral Insurance pays the policy owner, then the nominated beneficiary, then the executor, and the beneficiary must be a person (Momentum: FAQs). Neither wording we hold changes the owner or beneficiary automatically on marriage, so do it yourself.

Two legal points, so you are not misled elsewhere:

How the Wills Act and a policy fit together

Situation What happens to the payout
Policy names your new spouse as beneficiary Paid to your spouse, whatever your will says
Policy names a former partner or a parent Paid to them until the beneficiary is changed
No beneficiary is named, or the estate is named Goes to the policy owner or the estate; estate money then follows your will, or the intestacy rules if there is no valid will
Your spouse is the policy owner on your life Paid to the owner under the policy terms

These rows follow Momentum's Quick Life wording; check your own policy. An insurer will not know your wishes unless the policy is updated.

Who should own the policy?

For Quick Life the life insured is usually the owner, and ownership can be transferred to someone at least 16 years old. The Quick Life wording says an owner may be an immediate family member limited to parents or siblings, with the insured's consent; a spouse is not named there, so ask Momentum before you rely on it. The Contracts of Insurance Act 2024 says a policy is not void just because the policyholder has no interest in the life insured, but that applies only from 15 November 2027 and is not yet in force. Relationship property law can also reach life policies: the share of a policy's value or proceeds attributable to the relationship may be relationship property, and the court can make orders about policies, although nothing divides automatically (Property (Relationships) Act 1976). That matters most if the relationship ends.

Single policies or joint cover for newlyweds?

Momentum Quick Life or adviser-led cover for couples?

Momentum Quick Life Underwritten cover through an adviser
Ages 18 to 65 Varies, for example Fidelity Life 16 to 75
Amount $50,000 to $300,000 to start, indexed 3% a year to a $500,000 cap per person Much higher amounts available
Health questions None Yes, assessed by the insurer
First 2 years Pre-existing conditions and suicide excluded; premiums refunded for a pre-existing condition death Terms set by the insurer; can be declined or loaded
Premiums Stepped to 75, then fixed Stepped or level

Healthy couples often find underwritten cover gives more for less, since an insurer pricing the cover has your health information. Guaranteed acceptance can suit a partner with a health history that would lead to a decline or heavy loading elsewhere. It is not the same as cover from day one. The first 2 years restrict what Quick Life pays, so an adviser can help you weigh the two. See is life insurance compulsory in NZ for the basics, and the Quick Life page for the rules. IRD says insurance payouts are generally excluded income (IRD), but check your own case.

Steps to take after marriage

  1. Write a new will, or confirm your existing one was made in contemplation of the marriage.
  2. Ask each insurer for a copy of the policy schedule and check the owner and beneficiary.
  3. Use the insurer's change of beneficiary form if the person named is no longer right.
  4. Re-run the cover calculation against your joint debts and incomes.
  5. Compare quotes for the same amount and age before changing. The FMA says to keep the old policy running until the new one is in force and to watch for new exclusions and waiting periods (FMA).
  6. Ask any adviser how they are paid.

The buttons on this page open Momentum's online application. A funeral cover amount calculator and the $1 million payout guide can help with sizing.

Who is behind this page

Advice is provided by Craig Smith Business Services Limited, trading as Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver, a licensed Financial Advice Provider (FSP712931). This is general information, not advice, and not legal advice. QuoteHub is a Momentum Life partner, and Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver may receive a commission if you buy a Momentum policy through our link; see how we are paid. Momentum Life Limited's A.M. Best financial strength rating is B (Fair), affirmed on 11 February 2026, which Momentum's own table groups in a "Vulnerable" range. The rating is not a recommendation; see its financial strength page.

Frequently asked questions

Does getting married cancel my life insurance?

No. The policy continues on its terms. What changes is your will, and your debts and dependants.

Does marriage revoke my will?

Yes, under section 18 of the Wills Act 2007, unless the will was made in contemplation of that particular marriage.

Should I make my spouse the beneficiary?

That is your decision. If you name no one, or name the estate, the proceeds follow your will or the intestacy rules.

Is joint cover better for newlyweds?

Not necessarily. Quick Life's joint cover is per person, and separate policies keep ownership and beneficiaries clear.

References

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