After a loved one dies, beneficiaries are sometimes told the life insurance claim cannot be paid because the death is classified as homicide pending investigation.
For many families, this explanation leads to months or even years of delay.
In many cases, the delay has less to do with the investigation and more to do with insurer tactics.
What Homicide Pending Investigation Actually Means
Homicide is a medical examiner classification, not a criminal conviction.
It simply means the death was caused by another person. It does not mean
• a crime has been charged
• a beneficiary is suspected
• coverage is excluded
Insurance companies often blur this distinction.
Why Insurers Delay Claims Labeled Homicide
Life insurance companies delay these claims for several reasons.
Common explanations include
• waiting for police reports
• waiting for prosecutor decisions
• waiting for an autopsy or toxicology
• claiming the investigation is open
In reality, insurers often have enough information to make a coverage decision long before the investigation ends.
The Hidden Delay Tactic Behind Open Investigations
Criminal investigations can remain open indefinitely.
Some insurers use the open status as a justification to do nothing.
Instead of making a decision, they repeatedly say the claim is under review while holding the death benefit.
This is a common delay tactic.
When Insurers Are Allowed to Delay Payment
Insurers may delay briefly to confirm
• cause of death
• identity of beneficiaries
• whether a beneficiary caused the death
They are not allowed to delay indefinitely without a reasonable basis.
A lack of criminal charges is not a valid excuse to delay payment forever.
Red Flags That the Delay Is Unreasonable
Warning signs include
• no written explanation for continued delay
• repeated requests for the same police records
• refusal to identify what information is missing
• months of silence followed by vague updates
These patterns often indicate bad faith handling.
How Insurers Use the Delay Against Beneficiaries
During prolonged delays, insurers may
• hope beneficiaries give up
• wait for documents to go stale
• build a denial narrative
• pressure families financially
Delay itself can be a strategy.
How to Push Back Against Homicide Investigation Delays
Beneficiaries are not powerless.
Effective pushback steps include
• demanding a written explanation for the delay
• asking what specific evidence is still needed
• confirming the policy has no homicide exclusion
• documenting every communication
• challenging unreasonable timelines
Insurers often act only when forced to justify their inaction.
What Not to Do During a Pending Investigation
Certain actions can make delays worse.
Avoid
• giving recorded statements unnecessarily
• speculating about events
• providing opinions instead of documents
• assuming the insurer is waiting in good faith
Everything provided can be used later.
Can Life Insurance Still Be Paid While an Investigation Is Open
Yes. Many life insurance claims are paid even while investigations remain open.
Unless a policy exclusion applies or a beneficiary is legally barred from recovery, payment should not be frozen indefinitely.
Why Early Action Matters
Once an insurer establishes a pattern of delay, it becomes harder to break.
Early pressure forces the insurer to either pay the claim or issue a denial that can be challenged.
Waiting quietly often benefits only the insurance company.