Cancellation of policy for nonpayment of premiums; notice, when; policyowner defined

40-410. Cancellation of policy for nonpayment of premiums; notice, when; policyowner defined. It shall be unlawful for any life insurance company, other than fraternal, doing business in this state within six (6) months after default in payment of any premium or installment of premium, to forfeit or cancel any life insurance policy on account of nonpayment of any such premium or installment of premium thereon, without first giving notice in writing to the policyowner of such policy of its intention to forfeit or cancel the same: Provided, however, That this section shall not apply to any policy under the terms of which the premium is to be paid weekly, biweekly or monthly and under which a grace period of at least four (4) weeks is granted for the payment of every premium after the first, during which time the insurance shall continue in force, and shall not apply to general or blanket contracts insuring groups of lives. Policyowner as used herein shall be the owner of the policy as shown by the records of the life insurance company. When the policyowner is other than the insured, the company, upon specific written request by the insured to the company at its home office at any time before a premium is due, shall thereafter furnish the insured a duplicate of any notice required to be sent to the policyowner hereunder. History: L. 1927, ch. 231, 40-410; L. 1959, ch. 214, § 1; June 30. Source or prior law: L. 1913, ch. 212, § 1; L. 1923, ch. 154, § 1; R.S. 1923, 40-332; L. 1925, ch. 184, § 1. Law Review and Bar Journal References: 1953-55 survey of insurance law, Richard A. Barber, 4 K.L.R. 209, 211 (1955). CASE ANNOTATIONS 1. Statute not retroactive; applicability to policy issued in Nebraska considered. Lightner v. Insurance Co., 97 Kan. 97, 101, 102, 154 P. 227. 2. Nonpayment of premium; notice of forfeiture; construction of statute. Priest v. Life Association, 99 Kan. 295, 297, 301, 161 P. 631. 3. Provision in policy waiving statutory written notice held void. Reynolds v. Insurance Co., 105 Kan. 669, 185 P. 1051. 4. Notice of intention to cancel given 32 days after time of payment valid. Wolford, Administratrix, v. Insurance Co., 114 Kan. 411, 413, 219 P. 263. 5. Termination fixed in policy; renewed only on payment of premium in advance; section not applicable to policy for short period with fixed termination. Balch v. Life Insurance Co., 116 Kan. 560, 562, 563, 227 P. 326. 6. Notice of forfeiture after extension note in default not prematurely given. Clover v. Bankers Life Co., 117 Kan. 683, 684, 232 P. 1068. 7. Section cited in considering laws relating to forfeiture or cancellation. Lowenstein v. Missouri St. Life Ins. Co., 120 Kan. 75, 76, 242 P. 123. 8. Notice of cancellation for nonpayment goes to insured, not beneficiary. Ziegler v. Kansas Life Ins. Co., 120 Kan. 252, 243 P. 272. 9. Section cited in considering forfeiture of policy. Bank Savings Life Ins. Co. v. Baker, 120 Kan. 756, 244 P. 862. 10. Notice given at termination, policy allowed 30 days' grace, ineffectual. Farmers and Bankers Life Ins. Co. v. Brown, 122 Kan. 778, 779, 253 P. 559. 11. Premium note modifying policy is governed by law of state where made. Wilson v. Illinois Life Ins. Co., 221 Mo. App. 1007, 300 S.W. 550, 552. 12. Insurer has burden of showing insufficiency of premiums and proper notice of cancellation. Moseley v. Victory Life Ins. Co., 226 Mo. App. 566, 45 S. W.2d 119, 120. 13. Notice of forfeiture served during grace period held insufficient. Sebal v. Columbian Nat. Life Ins. Co., 144 Kan. 266, 268, 58 P.2d 1108. 14. Premium and forfeiture notices given in substantial compliance with statute sufficient. Swayze v. Mutual Life Ins. Co., 32 F.2d 784. 15. Notice provision not applicable where six-months' default has elapsed. Wegner v. Federal Reserve Life Ins. Co., 130 Kan. 600, 606, 608, 287 P. 591. 16. Section not applicable to accident policies. Loades v. Woodmen Accident Co., 134 Kan. 337, 338, 5 P.2d 798. 17. Cited in holding proceeds impressed with trust for defrauded party when. Exchange State Bank v. Poindexter, 137 Kan. 101, 108, 19 P.2d 705. 18. Notice held not to conform with statute and ineffective. Pedersen v. United Life Ins. Co., 139 Kan. 695, 33 P.2d 297. 19. Notice; extension agreement; additional notice not required and policy held lapsed. Brown v. Illinois Bankers Life Assur. Co., 144 Kan. 670, 675, 63 P.2d 165; Hildyard v. Mutual Life Ins. Co., 145 Kan. 197, 200, 64 P.2d 7. 20. Under policy company could not apply dividends to unpaid premium. Anderson v. Liberty Life Ins. Co., 149 Kan. 447, 449, 87 P.2d 499. 21. Extension agreement made under K.S.A. 40-416 controlling as against provisions hereof. Mauck v. Great American Life Ins. Co., 150 Kan. 636, 638, 640, 95 P.2d 325. 22. Notice of cancellation held not to conform to statute and ineffective; provision to cancel policy for nonpayment of premium must be specific. Logan v. Victory Life Ins. Co., 175 Kan. 88, 89, 92, 93, 95, 96, 97, 259 P.2d 165. 23. Section discussed, construed, in holding notice sufficient and policy lapsed. Minnesota Mut. Life Ins. Co. v. Cost, 72 F.2d 519, 520, 522. 24. Notice given prior to due date or within grace period held ineffective. Penn. Mut. Life Ins. Co. v. Ashton, 93 F.2d 565. 25. Annual premium policy not converted by subsequent agreement; notice provisions applicable. Mutual Life Ins. Co. of New York v. Weigel, 197 F.2d 656, 657, 658, 659, 660. 26. Policy governs as to date premiums due; notice held sufficient. Forbriger v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 9 F. Supp. 94, 95. 27. Purpose of statute requiring life insurance not be terminated for default without notice required by law was not to give insured additional insurance without premium. Miner v. Standard Life and Accident Insurance Co., 451 F.2d 1273, 1274. 28. Whether insurance contract required plaintiff mail one notice of premium due for each quarterly policy examined. Federal Kemper Life Assur. Co. v. Ellis, 28 F.3d 1033, 1039 (1994). Previous | Next LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COUNCIL General Policies 2026 Archived LCC Documents Archived LCC Meetings REVISOR OF STATUTES Archived Session Documents Archived School Finance Documents USEFUL LINKS Session Laws Kansas Administrative Regulations OTHER LEGISLATIVE SITES Kansas Legislature Administrative Services Division of Post Audit Research Department Contact Us PDF Help www.ksrevisor.gov 2026