Reviewed by Chad G. Boonswang, Esq.

To claim a life insurance policy after someone dies, contact the insurance company, ask for its claim form, and send the completed form with a certified copy of the death certificate. Each beneficiary usually files separately. If everything is in order, many insurers pay within 30 to 60 days. Here are the steps in order, and the documents you’ll need.

Step 1: Find the Policy and the Insurer

You’ll need the insurer’s name and, ideally, the policy number. Check the insured’s papers, bank statements for premium payments, and mail from insurers. Ask the insured’s employer about group life insurance, and check with any financial advisor or agent. If you can’t find a policy, the NAIC’s free Life Insurance Policy Locator will ask participating insurers to search their records.

Step 2: Get Certified Copies of the Death Certificate

The insurer will need a certified copy, not a photocopy. Order several from the funeral home or the vital records office in the state where the death occurred, since banks and other institutions will need them too. If the cause of death is listed as pending, the insurer may wait for the final certificate.

Step 3: Contact the Insurer and Request a Claim Form

Call the insurer’s claims department or start the claim online. Give the insured’s full name, date of birth, date of death and policy number. Ask the insurer to confirm in writing which documents it needs. For group coverage through work, the claim may go through the employer’s HR or benefits office first.

Step 4: Complete the Claim Form Carefully

Each beneficiary usually fills out a separate claim form. Use your full legal name and match the information on the death certificate. You’ll choose how to be paid, usually a lump sum. Some insurers offer to hold the money in an interest-bearing account or pay it in installments. You can generally ask for a lump sum instead.

Step 5: Send the Claim and Keep Copies

Send everything the insurer asked for, keep copies of all of it, and use a delivery method you can track. Write down the date you sent it. Under most state laws, the insurer’s time to pay starts once it has proof of death and a completed claim.

Documents Checklist

  • Completed claim form for each beneficiary
  • Certified copy of the death certificate
  • Policy number, or the policy itself if you have it
  • Your government-issued photo ID
  • Your Social Security number or taxpayer ID, for tax reporting
  • If you’re claiming for an estate: letters testamentary or letters of administration
  • If you’re claiming for a minor: guardianship or custodianship documents
  • If the death was accidental or happened abroad: police reports, autopsy reports or foreign death records, if the insurer requests them

How Long It Takes

Straightforward claims are often paid within 30 to 60 days after the insurer receives a complete claim. Many states require insurers to pay within a set number of days and to add interest if they’re late. Expect a longer review if the insured died within two years of the policy being issued, the cause of death is unclear, the death happened outside the U.S., or more than one person claims the money. I explain why life insurance claims take so long in my full article.

Is There a Deadline to File?

Most policies don’t have a short deadline for filing a death claim, but don’t wait. Delays can make records harder to get, and if the insurer can’t find a beneficiary, the money may eventually be turned over to the state as unclaimed property. It can generally still be claimed from the state.

Are the Proceeds Taxable?

Life insurance proceeds paid because of the insured’s death generally aren’t subject to federal income tax. Any interest the insurer pays on top of the death benefit is generally taxable, and you’ll receive a tax form for it. For a large estate, talk with a tax professional about estate tax.

If the Insurer Delays or Denies the Claim

If the insurer asks for broad medical authorizations or a recorded statement, says the policy lapsed, says the application was inaccurate, or simply stops responding, that’s the point to get help. Talk to a life insurance attorney before you respond.

You can also read my guide to appealing a life insurance claim denial.

Contact me for a free case review. I work on a contingency fee, so there’s no fee unless I recover benefits for you.