Jeffries v. Life Insurance Company was a case heard by the United States Supreme Court in 1875. The case involved a dispute between the plaintiff, William Jeffries, and the defendant, the Life Insurance Company of Virginia. Jeffries had taken out a life insurance policy with the company in 1871, and when he died in 1873, his widow attempted to collect the benefits. The company refused to pay, claiming that Jeffries had failed to pay the premiums due on the policy. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Jeffries' widow, finding that the company had failed to provide sufficient notice of the premium payments due. The Court held that the company had a duty to provide notice of the premium payments, and that the failure to do so constituted a breach of contract. The Court also held that the company was liable for the full amount of the policy, plus interest, as the company had failed to provide the necessary notice. In its decision, the Court established the principle that insurance companies must provide adequate notice of premium payments due in order to be held liable for the full amount of the policy. This decision has been cited in numerous subsequent cases involving insurance companies and their obligations to policyholders.

In Jeffries v. Life Insurance Company, the Supreme Court was tasked with determining whether a life insurance policy could be assigned to another party without the consent of the insurer. The majority opinion held that such an assignment was invalid and unenforceable as it violated public policy. Justice Field dissented from this ruling, arguing that there were no legal or equitable principles which would prevent a valid assignment of a life insurance policy in cases where both parties had agreed to it and all conditions for its validity had been met. He further argued that if one party wished to assign their rights under an existing contract then they should have every right to do so unless prohibited by law or some other binding agreement between them and the other party involved in said contract.