Exhibit 11
John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust
601 Congress Street
Boston, MA 02110
January 18, 2017
To Whom It May Concern:
This opinion is written in reference to the shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value (the “Shares”), of Total Stock Market Index Trust and Blue Chip Growth Trust, each a series of John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Trust”), to be offered and sold pursuant to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (the “Registration Statement”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 on or about January 18, 2017.
I have examined such records and documents and reviewed such questions of law as I deemed necessary for purposes of this opinion.
1. The Trust has been duly recorded under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is a validly existing Massachusetts business trust.
2. The Shares have been duly authorized and, when sold in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, will be legally issued.
3. Purchasers of the Shares will not have any obligation to make payments to the Trust or its creditors (other than the purchase price of the Shares) or contributions to the Trust or its creditors solely by reason of the purchasers’ ownership of the Shares.
The Trust is an entity commonly known as a Massachusetts business trust. The opinion above, as it relates to purchasers’ obligations to make payments or contributions to the Trust or its creditors, is, therefore, qualified to the extent that under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a Massachusetts business trust may be held personally liable for the obligations of the trust.
I consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference made to me in the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Betsy Anne Seel
Betsy Anne Seel
Assistant General Counsel, U.S. Operations Law Department, John Hancock
