Marr. of Valli

Filed 5/15/14 Reposted to correct Court of Appeal docket number; no change to opinion text

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA

In re the Marriage of FRANKIE ) and RANDY VALLI. ) ____________________________________) )

FRANKIE VALLI, )

) Respondent, ) ) S193990 v. ) ) Ct.App. 2/5 B222435

RANDY VALLI, )

) Los Angeles County Appellant. ) Super. Ct. No. BD414038 ____________________________________)

During a marriage the husband used community property funds to purchase an insurance policy on his life, naming his wife as the policy‟s only owner and beneficiary. Upon dissolution of the marriage, is the life insurance policy community property or the wife‟s separate property? We conclude that, unless the statutory transmutation requirements have been met, the life insurance policy is community property. Because the Court of Appeal reached a different conclusion, we reverse that court‟s judgment. I After a 20-year marriage, Frankie…