How to File a Life Insurance Claim for Benefits After Death
Losing a loved one is emotionally overwhelming, and dealing with financial matters—especially life insurance—may feel impossible during the grieving process. Many beneficiaries delay handling life insurance issues simply because they don’t know where to begin or fear making a mistake. Fortunately, filing a life insurance claim is often straightforward once you understand the steps involved and the documents you need.
In this comprehensive guide, our life insurance attorneys explain how to file a life insurance claim after death, what to expect during the claim process, and what to do if your claim is delayed or denied. If you need help at any stage, call our lawyers at (888) 510-2212 for a free consultation.
How to Claim a Life Insurance Policy After Death
Most life insurance companies follow a predictable claims process. Knowing what to expect can help you organize the necessary documents and avoid delays.
Below are the steps you should take to promptly collect life insurance benefits.
1. Obtain Certified Copies of the Death Certificate
A certified death certificate is required to file a life insurance claim. This document provides proof of death and is essential for processing benefits. You may obtain it from:
The funeral home handling arrangements
The county or state vital records office
The medical examiner’s office (for accidental or suspicious deaths)
If the insured is missing
If the person is missing but not legally declared dead, you may need a court order establishing presumed death, which the insurer must accept as proof.
2. Contact the Life Insurance Company
Notify the insurance company as soon as possible. This speeds up the claim process and helps prevent unnecessary delays. You can reach the insurer by:
Calling the claims department directly
Contacting the agent who sold the policy
Working with the human resources or benefits department (for employer-provided policies)
The insurer will provide claim forms and instructions on the next steps.
3. Gather the Required Documents
Here is the document checklist you need to file a life insurance claim:
Required Documents
Certified death certificate
Autopsy, toxicology, and coroner reports (for accidental or unexplained deaths)
Medical records (if requested)
Police reports (for accidents, homicide, DUI claims, etc.)
The original life insurance policy, if available
Completed claim form (provided by the insurer)
Do you need the original policy?
No. You can still file a claim if the original policy is lost. The insurance company will verify coverage in its system.
Claim forms
Claim forms ask for:
The insured’s details
Your beneficiary information
Your relationship to the insured
How you prefer to receive the payout
Claiming Life Insurance Benefits After Death: Key Questions to Ask
Before filing, it helps to gather basic information about the policy:
1. What type of policy is it?
Term life
Whole life
Universal life
Group life insurance (through employment)
The type of policy affects eligibility and payout rules.
2. Was the policy active at the time of death?
Policies lapse if premiums aren’t paid. But many lapses are wrongful, especially if the insurer failed to send proper notices. If told the policy lapsed, contact a life insurance lawyer right away.
3. Who are the beneficiaries?
You must determine whether:
You are the named primary beneficiary
You are a contingent beneficiary
No beneficiary was listed (in which case state law may determine who receives the benefits)
Read more about life insurance beneficiary rights on our blog.
4. Which company issued the policy?
If you’re unsure:
Check bank statements for premium payments
Contact the insured’s employer
Review mail and email
Ask close family members
5. How much is the policy worth?
You may need this information to confirm you’re filing the correct claim.
How Are Life Insurance Claims Paid?
Beneficiaries can choose from several payout options:
Lump Sum
The entire death benefit is paid at once. This is the most common method.
Life Income Option
You receive guaranteed monthly income for the rest of your life.
Interest Income Option
The insurer holds the proceeds and pays interest over time.
Annuity Options
Payments continue for as long as the beneficiary lives or for a guaranteed period.
The insurer must process the claim within 30 days of receiving all required documents. If more than 60 days pass, the claim may be considered delayed, and the insurer may owe interest on the unpaid benefit.
How Long Do You Have to File a Life Insurance Claim?
Most policies require beneficiaries to file a claim “within a reasonable time.” While insurers prefer timely claims, there are many situations where beneficiaries can still collect benefits even after long delays.
If you missed the deadline or discovered the policy late, a life insurance attorney can often help you recover the payout.
Can a Life Insurance Claim Be Denied or Delayed?
Yes. Even when beneficiaries follow all the steps correctly, insurers may still delay or deny the claim.
Common reasons life insurance companies deny or delay claims include:
1. Policy Lapse
A leading cause of denials. Policies lapse when premium payments stop—but wrongfully lapsed policies are common.
2. Misrepresentation
If the insured omitted or misstated health information, age, weight, income, or medical history, the insurer may attempt to rescind coverage.
3. Contestability Period
If the insured died within the first two years of the policy, insurers can investigate the application for misrepresentations.
4. Suicide or Self-Inflicted Injury
Some policies exclude suicide during the first two years.
5. Homicide
If the insured died by homicide, the insurer may delay payment while ensuring the beneficiary is not a suspect.
6. Exclusions
Death caused by drug use, risky activities, illegal acts, or excluded causes may lead to denial.
What to Do if Your Life Insurance Claim Is Denied
Not all denials are valid. If you receive a denial letter, you should:
Review the denial letter carefully
Contact a life insurance attorney
Gather all relevant documents
Prepare to dispute the denial
Many denials—especially for lapse, contestability, or misrepresentation—can be overturned with the help of an experienced lawyer.
How Our Life Insurance Lawyers Can Help
Our attorneys have successfully recovered millions for clients with denied or delayed claims, including:
$100,000 after a wrongful lapse denial
$1,000,000 after a contestability dispute
$550,000 after reversing a misrepresentation denial
$1,000,000 after a beneficiary dispute in a homicide case
We offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee, meaning you pay nothing unless we win.
If you need help filing a claim or appealing a denial, call (888) 510-2212 to speak to one of our life insurance lawyers today.
