Life Insurance Lawyers in Hawaii

Get Your Life Insurance Benefits Paid

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Is The Life Insurance Company Withholding Your Benefits?

After losing someone you love, you should not be left trying to make sense of an unpaid life insurance claim.

Our Hawaii life insurance lawyers look at what happened before and after the claim was filed, including the policy, payment history, application, and insurer’s stated reason for withholding benefits.

Our life insurance lawyers have spent 20+ years representing beneficiaries like you in denied and delayed claims, including ERISA disputes, accidental death (AD&D) denials, TSGLI disputes, and other life insurance conflicts.

We’ve recovered more than $200 million for beneficiaries in O’ahu, Maui, Kaua’i, throughout Hawaii, and nationwide, representing clients in Florida, New York, California, New Jersey, Texas, and communities across the U.S.

You don’t have to face the insurance company on your own. Let us fight for your payout while you focus on your family.

“This was truly a difficult case, these guys are a true championship team.”

Hear From Beneficiaries We’ve Helped

“5 stars is just not enough for Mr. Boonswang (Chad) and his team. This is the firm that you want to have on your side when you are facing intricate legal problems. They are incredibly professional, empathetic, and knowledgeable. Excellent communication. Easy to work with. Chad went above and beyond on our case- we can't recommend Boonswang Law enough!”

“They have been awesome with my case. Joseph is an excellent attorney. He is competent with up to date knowledge, kindness and compassion. I would highly recommend and trust them.”

Hawaii Rules That Can Add Protections to a Life Insurance Claim

Hawaii places specific obligations on life insurers after a policyholder dies, including rules for interest, evidence, beneficiary searches, and successful coverage lawsuits.

Interest From the Date of Death: Hawaii generally requires unpaid life insurance proceeds to earn interest from the insured’s date of death. When no lawsuit has been filed, the rate cannot be less than 6% per year, unless the proceeds are paid within 30 days of death.

Attorney Fees After a Successful Lawsuit: If an insurer contests liability and is ordered to pay policy benefits, Hawaii law also requires an award of reasonable attorney fees and costs to the beneficiary.

Missing Reinstatement Applications: If a beneficiary makes a written request for a copy of a reinstatement or renewal application and the insurer fails to provide it within 30 days, Hawaii law can prevent the insurer from using that application as evidence in a dispute.

Insurers Must Search for Beneficiaries: Covered insurers must compare applicable policies against death records at least twice a year. After a potential match, they generally have 90 days to confirm the death, determine whether benefits are due, and make good-faith efforts to locate beneficiaries.

Legitimate vs. Illegitimate Life Insurance Claim Denials

Hawaii requires insurers to give a reasonable explanation for denying a claim.

That explanation should be supported by the policy terms and the records the company used to reach its decision.

Reasons a Claim May Be Legitimately Denied:

The policy clearly excluded the reported cause of death
Required premiums were not paid and the policy had legally lapsed
The application contained a misrepresentation made with intent to deceive or one that materially affected the insurer’s risk
The person filing the claim is not the lawful beneficiary
The claim falls within a valid policy limitation or exclusion

Signs the Denial May Be Illegitimate:

The insurer cannot clearly explain why your claim was rejected
Your payment history, medical records, or other evidence was overlooked
Policy language is being stretched beyond its intended meaning
The company raises new objections only after you file the claim
Your claim is delayed for months without a clear reason

Hawaii’s unfair-claims rules also restrict certain practices involving unexplained denials and misleading “final payment” or release language when additional covered benefits may still be owed.

Consumers can file an insurance complaint through the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Insurance Division.

Boonswang Law represents beneficiaries throughout Hawaii and across the mainland, including clients in Washington and Oregon. If your claim has been denied, we’ll review the insurer’s decision and fight for the benefits you’re entitled to.

What’s Holding Up Your Life Insurance Benefits?

Whether you’re on the Big Island, Niʻihau, or another Hawaiian island, our life insurance attorneys handle disputes throughout Hawaii involving:

Denied Life Insurance Claims

ERISA Group Life Insurance Claims

Accidental Death (AD&D) Denials

Beneficiary Disputes

Delayed Death Benefit Payments

Lapsed Policy Disputes

Alleged Misrepresentation on Applications

Employer Notice Failures

TSGLI Claims

Many claims involve multiple overlapping issues, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you don’t see your specific situation listed. We’ll review your case and help you pursue the benefits you’re owed.

Expert Legal Insights From Boonswang Law: Video Guides for your Claim

Facing a denied life insurance claim and not sure what to do next? Check out our full YouTube channel to learn more about your rights as a beneficiary and how we fight to get you paid.

Play

Our Wins For Previous Clients Like You

$1.25M

ING Insurance Company

$1M

New York Life Insurance Company

$780K

AIG American General Life Insurance Co.

Steps You Can Take to Protect Your Claim

The steps you take after a denial or delay can affect your ability to recover the life insurance benefits you’re owed.

Follow these guidelines to protect your claim:

Get the Denial in Writing

Ask the insurer to explain why your claim was denied and identify the policy terms or records it relied on.

Keep Every Important Document

Save the policy, application, premium history, claim forms, beneficiary records, letters, emails, and any other paperwork tied to your claim.

Avoid Signing Away Your Rights

Before accepting a reduced payout or signing a release, make sure you know whether you may still be entitled to the full benefit.

Have a Life Insurance Lawyer Review Your Case

An attorney can check whether the insurer followed Hawaii’s claim-handling requirements and whether the records support its reason for nonpayment.

If your benefits are being withheld, acting quickly can give you a stronger chance of recovering the payout your loved one intended for you. Get in touch with us as soon as possible.

We Fight For You with $0 Upfront

You shouldn’t have to worry about legal fees when you’re grieving a loved one.

Boonswang Law handles life insurance cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing until we recover benefits for you.

You can also have our life insurance attorneys review your denied or delayed claim at no cost before deciding what to do next.

How We Fight Insurers To Get You Paid

Hawaii claims can be handled in coordination with Hawaii-licensed local counsel. If litigation requires it, Boonswang Law attorneys may also seek pro hac vice admission for that particular case, subject to the court’s approval.

The history behind the claim can matter, including:

Whether premiums kept the policy in force
What appeared on the original application or any reinstatement application
What records the insurer reviewed before refusing payment
Whether the company gave a clear reason for its decision
Whether beneficiary records create a separate dispute
What the insurer did after learning of the insured’s death

That record can help show whether the dispute should be resolved through negotiation, an appeal, or court action.

Serving Beneficiaries Throughout Hawaii

Ewa Gentry
Hilo
Honolulu
Kailua
Kaneohe
Kapolei
Kihei
Makakilo
Mililani
Pearl City
Schofield Barracks
Wahiawa
Wailuku
Waipahu

A Denied Claim Isn’t The End Of The Road. Reach Out Today.

Depending on how a claim was handled, unpaid proceeds can accrue interest from the date of death, and a successful coverage lawsuit can also result in an award of reasonable attorney fees and costs.

Get a free case evaluation to see what the insurer may owe under your policy and Hawaii law.

Common Questions About Life Insurance Law

Potentially. Hawaii law generally revokes certain revocable beneficiary designations in favor of a former spouse after divorce or annulment, unless an exception applies, such as the policy terms, a court order, or an agreement between the parties.

Sometimes. Hawaii generally provides a 30-day grace period for premiums after the first, during which the policy remains in force. The payment history and effective lapse date should be reviewed before assuming coverage ended.

If a beneficiary requests a copy of a reinstatement or renewal application and the insurer does not provide it within 30 days, Hawaii law can limit the insurer’s ability to use that application as evidence in a dispute.

For covered policies, Hawaii requires insurers to compare their records against death data at least twice a year. After a potential match, the insurer generally has 90 days to confirm the death, determine whether benefits are due, and make good-faith efforts to locate the beneficiaries.

The Hawaii Insurance Division’s Life Insurance page provides access to the free NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator, which can help search participating insurers for a deceased person’s policy or annuity.