After the death of a loved one, seeking life insurance benefits can be overwhelming. But there a few simple steps you can take to make the task less daunting. Here’s how to file a life insurance claim.
- Locate the policy immediately after your relative’s death. While it can be overwhelming to deal with the death of a loved one, quickly locating the life insurance policy is important. Delaying a life insurance claim could have negative consequences.
- If you cannot locate the life insurance policy, try to find proof of a policy. Search for payment receipts, correspondence from the insurance company, or entries regarding the life insurance policy in your loved one’s checkbook, bank statement or credit card statements.
- After you have found the policy or proof, contact the insurance company and ask for a claim form. If you weren’t able to locate the actual life insurance policy, request that the insurance company send you a copy of the policy. Read the policy carefully before you fill out the claim form so that you can fully understand your rights.
- Get a certified copy of the death certificate and include it with the life insurance claim form. Make copies of anything you’re sending the insurance company.
Once the beneficiary has sent the life insurance claim form to the insurance company they can expect the claim to be settled within three to four weeks. If there are issues, the life insurance company will usually let you know in writing. If you receive a life insurance claim denial, contact a life insurance claim denial attorney immediately.
