<PAGE>
[LOGO]
HARTFORD LIFE
June 29, 2000
LYNDA GODKIN
Senior Vice President, General
Counsel & Corporate Secretary
Board of Directors
Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Company
200 Hopmeadow Street
Simsbury, CT 06089
RE: Hartford Life Insurance Company
Separate Account Seven
Initial Filing
Dear Sir/Madam:
I have acted as General Counsel to Hartford Life Insurance Company (the
"Company"), a Connecticut insurance company, and Separate Account Seven (the
"Account") in Connecticut with the registration of an indefinite amount of
securities in the form of variable annuity contracts (the "Contracts") with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
I have examined such documents (including the Form N-4 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 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.
4. The Contracts, when issued as contemplated by the Form N-4 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 N-4
registration statement for the Contracts and the Account.
Sincerely yours,
/s/ Lynda Godkin
Lynda Godkin
