EXHIBIT 8


                                                               February 27, 2001

Hartford Life, Inc.
200 Hopmeadow Street
Simsbury, Connecticut 06089

                              Hartford Life, Inc.
                            Hartford Life Capital II
                       Registration Statement on Form S-3
                 Prospectus Supplement dated February 27, 2001
                 ---------------------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as special counsel to Hartford Life, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and Hartford Life Capital II, a Delaware business
trust (the "Trust", and together with the Company, the "Registrants"), in
connection with (i) the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Act"), by the Company, of Registration Statements on Form S-3 (File Nos. 333-
21865 and 333-56283) (the "Registration Statements"), relating to the issuance
and sale by the Trust of 8,000,000 7.625% Trust Preferred Securities (the
"Preferred Securities") (liquidation amount $25 per security).

     In furnishing this opinion, we have participated in the preparation and
filing with the Commission under the Act of the Registration Statements and all
amendments thereto.  In addition, we have relied upon such records, documents,
certificates or other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or
appropriate to enable us to render the opinion expressed below.  In this
examination, we have assumed (i) the genuineness of all signatures, (ii) the
authenticity, validity and enforceability of all documents submitted to us as
original documents, (iii) conformity to original documents of all documents
submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies and (iv) the transactions
described in the Prospectus Supplement referred to above (the "Prospectus
Supplement") are performed in the manner described in the Prospectus Supplement.

     Based on the foregoing, and subject to the limitations, qualifications, and
assumptions set forth herein, we confirm that the statements of law and legal
conclusions set forth under the heading "United States Federal Income Tax
Consequences" in the Prospectus Supplement represent our opinion.

     Our opinion is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
treasury regulations (including proposed treasury regulations) issued
thereunder, Internal Revenue Service rulings and pronouncements and judicial
decisions now in effect, all of which are subject to change, possibly with
retroactive effect.  No assurance can be given

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that the law and facts will not change, and we have not undertaken to advise you
or any other person with respect to any event subsequent to the date hereof.

     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to a report
of the Company on Form 8-K and its incorporation by reference into the
Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the heading "United
States Federal Income Tax Consequences" in the Prospectus Supplement forming a
part of the Registration Statement.  In giving such consent, we do not thereby
concede that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required
under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder.

                                    Very truly yours,


                                    /s/ Debevoise & Plimpton

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