Exhibit 5.1

                      [Debevoise & Plimpton Letterhead LLP]

March 12, 2004

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
Hartford Plaza
Hartford, Connecticut  06115

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-108067) (the "Registration Statement") and
the Prospectus Supplement, dated March 4, 2004 (the "Prospectus Supplement"), to
the Prospectus dated December 3, 2003, of The Hartford Financial Services Group,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), relating to the issuance and sale by the
Company of $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's 4.75% Senior
Notes due March 1, 2014 (the "Notes") issued pursuant to the Senior Indenture
(the "Indenture"), dated as of March 9, 2004 between the Company and JPMorgan
Chase Bank, as trustee.

         In so acting, we have examined and relied upon the originals or
certified, conformed or reproduction copies of such agreements, instruments,
documents, records and certificates of the Company, such certificates of public
officials and such other documents, and have made such investigations of law, as
we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of the opinions
expressed below. In all such examinations, we have assumed without independent
investigation or inquiry the legal capacity of all natural persons executing
documents, the genuineness of all signatures on original or certified copies,
the authenticity of all original or certified copies and the conformity to
original or certified documents of all copies submitted to us as conformed or
reproduction copies. We have relied as to factual matters upon, and have assumed
the accuracy of, the statements made in the certificates of officers of the
Company delivered to us and certificates and other statements or information of
or from public officials and officers and representatives of the Company.

         Based on and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the
Notes have been validly issued and constitute valid and binding obligations of
the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture.



         The opinion set forth above is subject to the effects of (1)
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium and
other similar laws now or hereafter in effect affecting creditors' rights
generally, (2) general principles of equity (regardless of whether
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in law or equity), (3) an implied
covenant of good faith, reasonableness and fair dealing, and standards of
materiality and (4) limitations with respect to enforceability of provisions of
the Indenture providing for indemnification or contribution, arising under
applicable law (including court decisions) or public policy.

         The opinion expressed herein is limited to the laws of the State of New
York as currently in effect and we do not express any opinion herein concerning
any other laws.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Company's Form 8-K filed on March 12, 2004, incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, and to the reference to our firm under the caption
"Validity of the Notes" in the Prospectus Supplement. 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 Securities Act or the rules and regulations
of the Commission thereunder.

                                                Very truly yours,

                                                /s/ Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

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