Aetna Life Insurance Company v. France is a United States Supreme Court case that was decided in 1877. The case involved a dispute between Aetna Life Insurance Company and France, a resident of Louisiana. Aetna had issued a policy of life insurance to France, and France had made payments on the policy for several years. However, France had failed to make the final payment on the policy, and Aetna sued to recover the unpaid amount. The Supreme Court held that Aetna was entitled to recover the unpaid amount, as the policy was a valid contract and France had failed to fulfill his obligations under the contract. The Court also held that Aetna was entitled to interest on the unpaid amount, as the policy provided for interest to be paid in the event of nonpayment. The Court further held that Aetna was not required to prove that France had received notice of the policy, as the policy was valid and enforceable without such proof. In conclusion, the Supreme Court held that Aetna was entitled to recover the unpaid amount, plus interest, from France. The Court also held that Aetna was not required to prove that France had received notice of the policy.

In Aetna Life Insurance Company v. France, the Supreme Court was tasked with deciding whether a contract between an insurance company and its policyholder could be enforced in a foreign country. The majority of the court held that it could not, as such contracts were subject to local laws and regulations which would render them unenforceable outside of their jurisdiction. Justice Field dissented from this opinion, arguing that while state law may have some bearing on these types of contracts, they should still be enforceable in other countries if both parties had agreed to do so at the time of signing. He further argued that since there was no evidence presented by either party indicating any intention otherwise, then the contract should stand as written regardless of where it is being enforced or what local laws might say about it.