ING JAMES A. SHUCHART Counsel January 3, 2006 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission 100 F Street, NE Room 1580 Washington, DC 20549 RE: ING Life Insurance and Annuity Company Registration Statement on Form S-1 Prospectus Title: Guaranteed Account File No. 333-________ Ladies and Gentlemen: In my capacity as Counsel of ING Life Insurance and Annuity Company, a Connecticut domiciled corporation (the "Company"), I have supervised the preparation of the registration statement for the Guaranteed Account ("Contract") to be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. I am of the following opinion: 1. The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Connecticut. 2. The Company is authorized to issue Contracts in those states in which it is admitted and upon compliance with applicable local law. 3. The Contracts, when issued in accordance with the prospectus contained in the aforesaid registration statement and upon compliance with applicable local law, will be legal and binding obligations of the Company in accordance with their terms. 4. The interests in the Contracts will, when issued and sold in the manner described in the registration statement, be legal and binding obligations of the Company and will be legally and validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable. I consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. Sincerely, /s/ James A. Shuchart - ------------------------------ James A. Shuchart 1475 Dunwoody Drive Tel: 610-425-3563 West Chester, PA 19380-1478 Fax: 610-425-3520