What is a structured settlement?

Zbeckabee

A structured settlement is a financial or insurance arrangement, including periodic payments, that a claimant accepts to resolve a personal injury tort claim or to compromise a statutory periodic payment obligation. Structured settlements were first utilized in Canada and the United States during the 1970s as an alternative to lump sum settlements. Structured settlements are now part of the statutory tort law of several common law countries including Australia, Canada, England and the United States. Structured settlements may include income tax and spendthrift requirements as well as benefits and are considered to be an asset backed security. Often the structured settlement will be created through the purchase of one or more annuities, which guarantee the future payments. Structured settlement payments are sometimes called “periodic payments” and when incorporated into a trial judgment is called a “periodic payment judgment." This is also called a coupon for a regular bond. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structured_settlement Oct 15 10, 5:39 PM