No. 16-1432October Term 2017Decided Jun 11, 2018
Sveen v. Melin
This case considers whether the retroactive application of a Minnesota law that automatically revokes an ex-spouse's status as a life insurance beneficiary violates the Constitution's Contracts Clause.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Jun 11, 2018
- What it's about
This case considers whether the retroactive application of a Minnesota law that automatically revokes an ex-spouse's status as a life insurance beneficiary violates the Constitution's Contracts Clause. The Supreme Court ruled that the law does not violate the Contracts Clause because it does not substantially impair pre-existing contractual arrangements.
Question presented
Whether the retroactive application of a Minnesota law that automatically revokes an ex-spouse's status as a life insurance beneficiary violates the Constitution's Contracts Clause.
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit / Decision released Jun 11, 2018
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- May 31, 2026
- Method
- Methodology