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                                                      HARTFORD LIFE


January 28, 1998                                      LYNDA GODKIN
                                                      SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT,
                                                      GENERAL COUNSEL &
                                                      CORPORATE SECRETARY

Board of Directors
Hartford Life Insurance Company
200 Hopmeadow Street
Simsbury, CT  06089

RE: SEPARATE ACCOUNT FIVE
    HARTFORD LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
    FILE NO. 333-36329

Dear Sir/Madam:

I have acted as General Counsel to Hartford Life Insurance Company (the
"Company"), a Connecticut insurance company, and Hartford Life Insurance Company
Separate Account Five (the "Account") in connection with the registration of an
indefinite amount of securities in the form of modified single premium variable
life insurance contract (the "Contracts") with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  I have examined such
documents (including the Form S-6 Registration Statement) and reviewed such
questions of law as I considered necessary and appropriate, and on the basis of
such examination and review, it is my opinion that:

1.  The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing as a stock
    life insurance company under the laws of the State of Connecticut and is
    duly authorized by the Insurance Department of the State of Connecticut to
    issue the Contracts.

2.  The Account is a duly authorized and validly existing separate account
    established pursuant to the provisions of Section 38a-433 of the
    Connecticut Statutes.

3.  To the extent so provided under the Contracts, that portion of the assets
    of the Account equal to the reserves and other contract liabilities with
    respect to the Account will not be chargeable with liabilities arising out
    of any other business that the Company may conduct.


                                                      Hartford Life Inc.
                                                      200 Hopmeadow Street
                                                      Simsbury, CT 06089
                                                      860 843 3153
                                                      860 843 8665 Fax


                                                      Mailing Address:
                                                      P.O. Box 2999
                                                      Hartford, CT  06104-2999



Board of Directors
Hartford Life Insurance Company
January 28, 1998
Page 2


4.  The Contracts, when issued as contemplated by the Form S-6 Registration
    Statement, will constitute legal, validly issued and binding obligations of
    the Company.

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Form S-6
Registration Statement for the Contracts and the Account.

Sincerely,

/s/ Lynda Godkin

Lynda Godkin