Filing a Life Insurance Claim: Steps, Documents and Payouts

If someone close to you has died and you are named on their life insurance, the claim may be one more task in an already hard time. The good news is that the basic process is usually straightforward: tell the insurer, send a claim form and proof of death, and choose how you want to be paid.

This guide walks through those steps and the decisions along the way. It is general information, not legal, tax or insurance advice. Every policy has its own procedures, and state rules differ. If you run into problems, your state insurance department can help at no cost, and a licensed attorney or tax professional can advise on your specific situation.

Before you start: gather the basics

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) says that a named beneficiary will need to know the name of the insurance company, where the policy is stored, the policy number and the benefit amount. Look through the person's papers for the policy itself, recent premium notices or annual statements, and any letters from the insurer or an agent.

You will also need a death certificate. The Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner says to submit a copy of the death certificate with your claim, and its guidance on finding old policies lists a certified copy among the things you will need. Certified copies come from the vital records office of the state or territory where the death occurred; the CDC keeps a directory of those offices and notes that the federal government does not distribute them.

If you believe a policy exists but cannot find it, see our guide "Finding a Lost Life Insurance Policy: Free Search Tools" before going further.

Step 1: Notify the insurer or employer

Washington's insurance regulator advises beneficiaries to contact the policyholder's insurer or agent and notify them of the death. The insurer's claims department will tell you what it needs and usually send or point you to a claim form.

If the coverage came through a job, start with the employer's benefits office. The New York Department of Financial Services notes that with group life insurance purchased through an employer, it is common for the employer, rather than the insurer, to keep the records for individual employees.

Step 2: Complete the claim form and send documents

According to Washington's insurance regulator, if there is more than one beneficiary, each person needs to complete a claim form. Send the death certificate and anything else the insurer asks for, and keep copies of everything. The New York Department of Financial Services notes that insurers may require additional information or paperwork before paying benefits.

A few habits make this smoother:

• Send documents in a way you can track, and note the date you sent them.
• Keep a simple log of every call: the date, the person you spoke with and what they said.
• Ask the insurer to confirm in writing when it considers the claim complete.

If the beneficiary is a minor, a trust or an estate, expect to provide papers showing who has legal authority to receive the money, such as court appointment papers or trust documents. Ask the insurer exactly what it requires.

Step 3: Choose how to receive the money

You may have several ways to take the death benefit. The Texas Department of Insurance's life insurance guide (updated December 2025) says companies usually pay a single lump sum, but common alternatives include:

• Interest option: the insurer keeps the money and pays you interest at regular intervals.
• Fixed period: the insurer pays the benefit in regular installments, with interest, over a period you choose.
• Life income: the insurer pays a set monthly amount for the rest of your life.

The NAIC also describes a retained asset account, which works like a checking account maintained with the life insurance company. A consumer tip sheet on these accounts from Oregon's insurance regulator (first published in September 2010) suggests asking what interest rate will be paid and how it is set; whether the money is held at a bank, which could make it FDIC insured up to the legal limit, or by the insurer, which could make it subject to state guaranty fund coverage if the insurer fails; and which services carry fees. The same sheet stresses that you can access the full amount at any time.

There is no need to rush this choice. The NAIC recommends talking with a tax professional about possible tax consequences when evaluating your options. Our guide "Taxes on Life Insurance Payouts: What the IRS Says" explains how the IRS treats the death benefit and any interest it earns.

How long payment can take

Timing rules come from state law and vary. Two examples:

• The Texas Department of Insurance guide (updated December 2025) says that in Texas, companies must pay the death benefit within two months after getting proof of death and verifying the beneficiary, and for an individual policy must also pay interest from the time proof of death was received.
• Washington's Office of the Insurance Commissioner says (as of 2026) that insurers in that state must pay no less than 8 percent interest starting from the date of death, plus an additional 3 percent on claims not settled within 90 days after proof of death is provided.

The Texas guide also notes that payment might take longer if the death occurs during the policy's contestable period, which it describes as two years for Texas policies, because the insurer may review the original application. If the insurer says it is reviewing the application, ask what it needs from you and roughly how long the review will take.

Protect yourself from scams

Stay alert for scams. The Federal Trade Commission lists four signs of a scam: someone pretends to be from an organization you know, says there is a problem or a prize, pressures you to act immediately, and tells you to pay in a specific way. Be wary of anyone who contacts you out of the blue about a policy and asks for money or financial details. Contact the insurer yourself using a phone number from the policy or the company's official website, and report scams to the FTC through its ReportFraud website.

When to get help

If the insurer is slow to respond, asks for things that seem unreasonable, or denies the claim, try to resolve it with the company first, then contact your state insurance department. The NAIC notes that state insurance departments can investigate complaints for free, including unfair claim delays or denials. For large or complicated claims, a licensed attorney can also advise you.

Key takeaways

• Gather the insurer's name, policy number, benefit amount and certified death certificates before you call.
• For coverage through work, start with the employer's benefits office.
• Each beneficiary usually files a separate claim form; keep copies and a call log.
• Compare a lump sum, installments and retained asset accounts, and remember that interest is taxable.
• State law sets payment deadlines and interest rules; your state insurance department can help if a claim stalls.

Sources

• National Association of Insurance Commissioners, What Should I Know About Life Insurance Beneficiaries? (October 12, 2026)
• Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner, Filing a life insurance claim
• Texas Department of Insurance, Life insurance guide (updated December 12, 2025)
• New York Department of Financial Services, Lost Policy Finder
• Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, Retained Asset Accounts (consumer tip sheet)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Where to Write for Vital Records
• National Association of Insurance Commissioners, How to File a Complaint
• Federal Trade Commission, How To Avoid a Scam