Delayed Life Insurance Claims
Christian Lassen, Esq. | Quoted in The Wall Street Journal | 25 Years Experience
If your life insurance claim has been delayed, you are not alone. Many beneficiaries expect payment within weeks, only to face months of silence, repeated document requests, or vague explanations from the insurance company. These delays often occur when families are already under financial and emotional strain. At Lassen Law Firm, we focus exclusively on helping beneficiaries resolve delayed and denied life insurance claims nationwide.
Christian Lassen, Esq., is a nationally recognized life insurance attorney with 25 years of experience handling insurer delay tactics. Every delayed claim is personally reviewed and handled to ensure insurance companies comply with their legal obligation to pay valid claims promptly. An unreasonable delay is not just frustrating. In many cases, it violates state law and exposes the insurer to bad faith liability.
When a Life Insurance Delay Becomes a Legal Violation
Insurance companies are required to process life insurance claims within a reasonable period of time. While insurers may investigate certain claims, they are not permitted to delay payment indefinitely or use delay as a pressure tactic. Most valid claims should be paid within 30 to 60 days once the insurer receives the necessary documentation.
A delay may be considered unreasonable when the insurer repeatedly requests documents that have already been provided, fails to explain why payment is being withheld, or continues an investigation without justification. In these situations, beneficiaries may have the right to pursue legal action for breach of contract or bad faith.
Why Insurance Companies Delay Life Insurance Claims
Insurance companies delay claims for many reasons, some legitimate and many improper. Delays are often used as a strategy to discourage beneficiaries from continuing to pursue payment or to create leverage for reduced settlements.
Common reasons insurers cite for delaying claims include investigations during the contestability period, reviews of the cause of death, allegations of application misrepresentation, or disputes involving beneficiaries. Claims may also be delayed due to internal administrative failures, employer errors in group life insurance policies, or heightened scrutiny of deaths occurring overseas.
Even when an investigation is allowed, insurers must conduct it diligently and in good faith. Prolonged silence or repeated stalling is often a sign of improper delay.
How We Force Resolution of Delayed Life Insurance Claims
At Lassen Law Firm, we take immediate action when an insurer delays payment without justification. We begin by demanding a clear written explanation for the delay and identifying the specific policy provisions the insurer claims apply. We then analyze the insurer’s conduct to determine whether state law or federal ERISA regulations have been violated.
When necessary, we apply legal pressure through formal demands, regulatory complaints, and litigation. Many insurers release payment quickly once they realize they are exposed to bad faith damages. If they do not, we are fully prepared to file suit and force compliance through the courts.
In one recent case, we represented a beneficiary whose $500,000 life insurance claim had been delayed for nearly a year based on repeated requests for additional documentation. After legal intervention, the insurer released full payment within 30 days.
Common Reasons Life Insurance Claims Are Delayed
• Contestability period investigations
• Repeated requests for medical or employment records
• Disputes regarding the cause of death
• Beneficiary designation questions
• Missing or delayed death certificates
• Employer or plan administrator errors in group policies
• Alleged application misstatements under review
• Claims involving international deaths
• Internal insurer processing failures
What To Do If Your Life Insurance Claim Is Delayed
- If your claim has been delayed, taking prompt action can make a significant difference.
- Request a written explanation stating why payment has not been made
- Gather all policy documents, correspondence, and proof of submission
- Avoid providing endless documentation without understanding its relevance
- Contact a life insurance attorney experienced in delay cases
- Act quickly, as delays can escalate into wrongful denials
- The earlier legal pressure is applied, the more likely the insurer will resolve the claim without prolonged litigation.
For a concise overview of delays, timelines, and immediate steps, see our Delayed Life Insurance Claim Fact Sheet.
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Written & Reviewed by Christian Lassen, Esq., Nationally recognized life insurance lawyer: 25 years experience, hundreds of millions recovered. Quoted in The Wall Street Journal ( May 17, 2025).
Last reviewed: Jan 3, 2026 | Contact 800-330-2274
Frequently Asked Questions About Delayed Life Insurance Claims
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Under most state laws, insurance companies must pay valid claims within 30 to 60 days after receiving proof of death. Delays beyond this period without a valid reason can constitute bad faith.
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Common causes include missing documents, contestability investigations, disputes over cause of death, beneficiary issues, insurer stalling tactics, and suspicion of application misrepresentation.
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Yes. If the insurer unreasonably delays payment, you may be able to sue for breach of contract and insurance bad faith, potentially recovering not only the death benefit but also extra damages.
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Yes. If the death occurs within the policy’s two-year contestability period, insurers often investigate the application for misrepresentations, which can slow the claims process.
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If the insurer questions whether the death falls under an exclusion, such as suicide or illegal activity, they may delay payment until an investigation is complete.
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You have the right to request a specific explanation for each document request. If the insurer continues stalling without good reason, legal intervention is recommended.
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A reasonable investigation should take no more than 30 to 60 days. Longer delays may signal bad faith conduct unless a complex issue genuinely requires more time.
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Yes. Extended delays often precede a formal denial, especially if the insurer is building a case around an exclusion or application misrepresentation.
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Consult an experienced life insurance attorney immediately. Prolonged delays often require legal action to force the insurer to honor the policy.
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A lawyer demands accountability, negotiates directly with claims adjusters and supervisors, invokes bad faith penalties, and, when necessary, files lawsuits to force payment.
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No. Hiring a lawyer usually shortens the timeline because insurers know they face legal consequences if they continue delaying a claim without justification.
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Yes. Accidental death policies often involve additional investigation to determine if the cause of death qualifies, leading to delays if the insurer questions whether an accident occurred.
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If a former spouse remains the named beneficiary, insurers may delay payment while investigating whether divorce decrees or automatic revocation statutes affect the designation.
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Yes. Group life insurance claims governed by ERISA often involve administrative steps that can extend timelines, but insurers are still obligated to make timely decisions.
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Yes. A missing or incomplete death certificate can significantly delay claim processing, as insurers require official proof of death to evaluate claims.
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Yes. Deaths abroad often involve delays due to the need for official translations, consular reports, and additional verification of foreign death certificates.
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You can file a formal complaint with your state's insurance regulator, send a legal demand letter, or retain an attorney to immediately pursue legal action against the insurer.
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Sometimes. Older policies may involve administrative issues, missing records, or disputes over whether coverage was in force at the time of death.
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State insurance laws impose strict timelines for insurers to pay claims. In cases of bad faith delay, courts may award interest, penalties, attorney’s fees, and punitive damages.
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You should contact a lawyer as soon as delays exceed 30 to 60 days without a valid reason. Waiting often harms your position by allowing the insurer to prolong the process unchecked.
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“They rejected our claim, saying the treatment my wife was undergoing wasn’t FDA-approved. The Lassen team got expert testimony and proved the procedure wasn’t the cause of death. That made all the difference.”- Anthony J.
Why The Lassen Law Firm Is Different
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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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