Birmingham Life Insurance Lawyer
Christian Lassen, Esq. | Quoted in The Wall Street Journal | 25 Years Experience
Families in Birmingham dealing with a life insurance denial often face long delays, shifting explanations, or outright refusals to pay. These disputes are rarely simple paperwork issues. They usually involve policy interpretation, federal law, or beneficiary conflicts that insurers use to avoid payment.
We represent families throughout Birmingham and across Alabama life insurance disputes, including claims governed by federal ERISA law and complex beneficiary rules.
The Lassen Law Firm represents Birmingham families in denied, delayed, and disputed life insurance claims, including accidental death and dismemberment cases. Our practice focuses exclusively on life insurance law.
Attorney Christian Lassen, Esq. has over 25 years of experience handling life insurance disputes nationwide and has been quoted by The Wall Street Journal on insurance related legal issues.
Why Life Insurance Claims Are Often Denied in Birmingham
Many Birmingham claims arise from:
Employer provided group life insurance plans governed by federal ERISA law
Coverage lapses during medical leave or payroll interruption
Beneficiary disputes following divorce or remarriage
Accidental death exclusions involving alcohol, medication, or alleged misconduct
Insurers rely on technical defenses that families are rarely equipped to challenge alone.
Many families contact us after receiving a denied life insurance claim letter that cites exclusions, alleged misrepresentation, or administrative issues that were never explained during the policy’s lifetime.
Where Birmingham Life Insurance Disputes Are Resolved
Most employer based life insurance disputes connected to Birmingham are handled under federal law and litigated in federal court. ERISA cases follow strict procedural rules that limit what evidence can be submitted later if it is not raised early.
Understanding how these cases are reviewed and where they are decided is often the difference between recovery and permanent denial.
Examples of Birmingham Area Life Insurance Disputes We Have Resolved
A Birmingham family denied group life benefits after a hospital system terminated coverage during medical leave. Investigation showed required notices were never properly sent, resulting in full payment of benefits.
An AD&D claim arising from a fatal motorcycle accident in the Avondale area where the insurer relied on a criminal activity exclusion. The exclusion was shown to be improperly applied.
A lapse denial affecting a Hoover area policyholder where billing and notice errors by the insurer led to full recovery.
These examples illustrate how insurers deny claims and how those denials are challenged.
Types of Life Insurance Disputes We Handle for Birmingham Families
Accidental death and dismemberment denials
Alleged policy lapse or nonpayment disputes
Application misrepresentation allegations
Beneficiary and ownership disputes
ERISA governed employer plan denials
Birmingham Areas We Serve
We work with families throughout the Birmingham metro area, including Avondale, Southside, Downtown, Five Points, Homewood, Hoover, Mountain Brook, Ensley, Crestwood, and Roebuck.
Do I Need a Birmingham Based Lawyer for a Life Insurance Claim?
Life insurance disputes are governed by contract law and federal statutes, not local courtroom appearances. What matters most is experience with insurer tactics, ERISA procedures, and litigation strategy, not office location.
No Fee Unless We Win
You owe us nothing unless we recover money for you. Every case begins with a free, private consultation.
Call The Lassen Law Firm at 800-330-2274 to speak directly with attorney Christian Lassen today.
Written & Reviewed by Christian Lassen, Esq.
National Life Insurance Attorney | 25+ Years of Experience
Quoted in The Wall Street Journal (May 17, 2025)
Last reviewed: Jan 19, 2026
Our FAQ
Have questions? We are here to help. Still have questions or can't find the answer you need? Give us a call at 800-330-2274 today!
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A grace period is the time after a missed payment during which the policy remains in force, usually 30 to 60 days depending on state law and policy terms.
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No. In most states, insurers must send a written notice of overdue premiums and warn of pending lapse before terminating coverage.
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The policy may still be enforceable. Beneficiaries can challenge the lapse based on the insurer’s failure to provide required notice.
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Yes. If the insured dies during the grace period, the policy is still considered active, and benefits should be paid.
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Yes. In group life insurance policies, employers sometimes fail to forward premiums properly, leading to wrongful lapse denials.
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Yes. If automatic payment setups fail through no fault of the insured, lapses may be challenged.
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Some policies automatically borrow against cash value to cover missed payments. Failure to apply this correctly can lead to wrongful lapse claims.
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Possibly. Some courts excuse nonpayment if the insured was mentally incapacitated and missed premiums without proper notice.
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No. Reinstatement must occur while the insured is alive, but wrongful lapse denials can still be challenged posthumously.
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Not without following strict notice and grace period rules. Beneficiaries can often challenge technical denials.
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Deadlines vary by state, but it’s critical to act within 1 to 5 years depending on the policy and jurisdiction.
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Not necessarily. Payments mailed within grace periods or accepted by insurers may keep coverage active.
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Bank records, payment receipts, insurer correspondence, and premium notices are key evidence.
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If the insurer used an outdated address despite updated information, lapse denials can often be overturned.
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Possibly. If the insured submitted a reinstatement application before death, it may help challenge a lapse denial.
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In some states, special grace periods and protections applied during COVID-19 emergencies. They can help fight wrongful lapses.
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Only if the insurer followed all legal notice and grace period requirements. Otherwise, beneficiaries may still recover.
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Misapplied premiums can lead to wrongful lapses — and courts often hold insurers accountable for these errors.
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An attorney can obtain records, challenge improper lapses, negotiate settlements, and litigate if necessary to enforce payment.
Our Clients Speak Volumes
The Right Choice for Your Claim
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“My husband died overseas, and the insurer stalled the claim citing lack of documentation. The Lassen team got official death records from abroad, translated and authenticated them, and made the insurer pay. They truly handled everything.”- Patricia W.
Why The Lassen Law Firm Is Different
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Proven National Results
With over two decades of exclusive focus on life insurance litigation, we’ve helped thousands of families recover wrongfully denied benefits. Our reputation for fast, strategic resolutions has made us a trusted national resource for complex claim disputes.
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Recognized ExpertisePerfect 10.0 Avvo rating endorsed by over 1,700 attorneys; life member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum; ranked among the top 1 percent of lawyers nationally for life insurance litigation.
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Client-First AdvocacyNo upfront fees: our contingency fee guarantee aligns our interests with yours; we provide personalized, compassionate representation from your initial consultation through resolution.
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Media & Community LeadershipQuoted in The Wall Street Journal and featured in leading legal publications; frequent speaker at national conferences; dedicated to charitable efforts supporting pediatric cancer care.
