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Ex-99-B.9
[AETNA LOGO]
[AETNA LETTERHEAD] Aetna Inc.
151 Farmington Avenue
Hartford, CT 06156-8975
JULIE E. ROCKMORE
Counsel
AFS Law, TS31
December 13, 2000 (860) 273-4686
Fax: (860) 273-0385
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20549
RE: AETNA LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY AND ITS VARIABLE ANNUITY
ACCOUNT C POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 23 TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT
ON FORM N-4 PROSPECTUS TITLE: MULTIPLE SPONSORED RETIREMENT
OPTIONS 403(b), 457, 401(a) and 401(k)
FILE NOS.: 333-01107* and 811-2513
Dear Sir or Madam:
The undersigned serves as counsel to Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity
Company, a Connecticut life insurance company (the "Company"). It is my
understanding that the Company, as depositor, has registered an indefinite
amount of securities (the "Securities") under the Securities Act of 1933 (the
"Securities Act") as provided in Rule 24f-2 under the Investment Company Act
of 1940 (the "Investment Company Act").
In connection with this opinion, I or those for whom I have supervisory
responsibility, have reviewed the N-4 Registration Statement, as amended to
the date hereof, and this Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 (the "Registration
Statement"). I have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise
identified to my satisfaction, of such documents, trust records and other
instruments I have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purpose of
rendering this opinion. For purposes of such examination, I have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures on original documents and the conformity to the
original of all copies.
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* Pursuant to Rule 429(a) under the Securities Act of 1933,
Registrant has included a combined prospectus under this Registration
Statement which includes all the information which would currently be
required in a prospectus relating to the securities covered by the
following earlier Registration Statements: 33-88720; 33-75964 (which had
included a combined prospectus for earlier Registration Statements:
33-75958, 33-75960, and 33-75994); 33-75986 (which had included a
combined prospectus for earlier Registration Statements: 33-75970,
33-75954, and 33-75956); 33-75982 (which had included a combined
prospectus for earlier Registration Statements: 33-75968, 33-75966,
33-75990, and the individual deferred compensation contracts covered by
Registration Statement No. 33-75992); and 33-91846 (which had included a
combined prospectus for earlier Registration Statement: 33-75976).
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I am admitted to practice law in Connecticut, and do not purport to be an
expert on the laws of any other state. My opinion herein as to any other law
is based upon a limited inquiry thereof which I have deemed appropriate under
the circumstances.
Based upon the foregoing, and, assuming the Securities are sold in accordance
with the provisions of the prospectus, I am of the opinion that the
Securities being registered will be legally issued and will represent binding
obligations of the Company.
I consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.
Sincerely,
/s/ Julie E. Rockmore
Julie E. Rockmore
Counsel
