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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1


August 29, 2001


AmerUs Group Co.
699 Walnut Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50309-3948

Ladies and Gentlemen:

              I am Senior Vice President and General Counsel of AmerUs Group Co.
(the "Company") and I have acted as counsel to the Company in connection with
the preparation of the Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration
Statement on Form S-8, File No. 333-40065 (the "Registration Statement") to be
filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to
the adoption of the Registration Statement by the Company, pursuant to Rule 414
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), as a
successor issuer of AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc. and the principles set forth in
the no action letter provided to AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc. and the Company on
July 24, 2000 and for the registration under the Securities Act of shares of
common stock, no par value per share, of AmerUs Group Co. ("AGC Stock") which
may be issued pursuant to the AmerUs Group Co. 1996 Incentive Stock Option Plan
and the AmerUs Group Co. 1989 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (the "Plans").

              I have examined the originals, certified copies or copies
otherwise identified to my satisfaction as being true copies of the Plans and
such other documents as I have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of
this opinion.

              Based on the foregoing, I am of the opinion that (1) the Company
is duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the State of Iowa
and (2) the AGC Stock will, when sold, be legally issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.

              I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to the
Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement.



                                               Very truly yours,

                                               /s/ Joseph K. Haggerty, Esq.