Life Insurance Lawyer Connecticut

Denied Life Insurance Claim in Connecticut? You’re Not Alone.

It’s not uncommon for insurers in Connecticut to reject valid life insurance claims, leaving beneficiaries frustrated and uncertain about their next steps. If you're dealing with a refused life insurance claim in Connecticut, The Lassen Law Firm can step in and advocate for the payout your loved one intended you to receive.

Beneficiary disputes in Connecticut often arise when life insurance policies are updated close to death, or when ex-spouses and family members present competing claims. If you're dealing with a life insurance beneficiary dispute in Connecticut, The Lassen Law Firm is ready to protect your rights and pursue a fair resolution.

When a life insurance company receives competing claims in Connecticut, it may file an interpleader lawsuit in Connecticut to avoid making the wrong payment and let the court decide who should receive the funds.

Experienced Life Insurance Lawyers Connecticut: The Lassen Law Firm

Life insurance claims can be daunting, especially when dealing with denied benefits or bad faith practices in Connecticut. At The Lassen Law Firm, we are dedicated to helping individuals and families across the Constitution State navigate the complexities of life insurance law. Our Connecticut life insurance lawyers serve clients across the state, including New Haven, Bridgeport CT, Hartford, Stamford, and Waterbury.

As life insurance attorneys handling cases nationwide, we’ve successfully recovered hundreds of millions in policies for our clients. Our commitment to justice and personalized attention makes The Lassen Law Firm the trusted choice for those seeking results. Call now for a free consultation to see if we can help you recover your life insurance benefits. No obligation.

Unlike other firms, The Lassen Law Firm exclusively handles denied life insurance claims. With 24 years of experience in this niche, we are recognized as top experts in the field. Our lawyers have earned prestigious awards, including membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and a 10.0 rating on AVVO. No other firm offers the same level of dedication and expertise in denied life insurance cases.

Life Insurance Claim Denials in Connecticut: How We Help Beneficiaries Recover

In Connecticut, families depend on life insurance to provide stability after the death of a loved one. Unfortunately, many legitimate life insurance claims are denied, delayed, or underpaid, often at the worst possible moment. If your claim has been rejected, you are not powerless. Our Connecticut life insurance attorneys help beneficiaries challenge wrongful denials and secure the benefits they are owed under the law.

Insurance companies are obligated to honor their policies, but they often act in their own financial interests first. By twisting policy language, overstating technical errors, or asserting questionable exclusions, they seek to minimize payouts. You do not have to accept their decision. We offer free consultations and charge no fees unless we recover benefits for you.

Why Life Insurance Claims Get Denied in Connecticut

Every denial has a reason — but not every reason is valid. Some of the most common tactics insurers use in Connecticut to deny life insurance claims include:

Application Misstatements: If the insurer claims the insured failed to disclose key facts, such as a medical diagnosis or smoking habit, they may try to rescind coverage.
Lapse for Nonpayment: Missing a premium payment can trigger a policy lapse, but insurers must follow Connecticut’s strict notice requirements before terminating a policy.
Deaths During the Contestability Period: If the insured passed away within the first two years after policy issuance, insurers often search aggressively for inconsistencies in the application.
Excluded Causes of Death: Policies often exclude deaths from activities like skydiving, mountain climbing, drug use, or suicide within a certain timeframe.
Conflicting Claims Among Beneficiaries: If multiple parties assert a right to the proceeds — such as a new spouse and children from a previous marriage — the insurer may refuse to pay until a court decides.
Errors with Group Life Insurance Plans: Employer mistakes during enrollment or administration can result in claim denials even when employees believed they had valid coverage.
Delays Based on Criminal Investigations: When a death is under investigation, insurers sometimes delay payments indefinitely, creating hardship for beneficiaries.

Even if the insurer cites a policy provision or technical rule, that doesn’t mean the denial is legally justified. An experienced life insurance attorney can often identify weaknesses in the insurer’s position and demand full payment.

Contestability Periods and Life Insurance Disputes in Connecticut

Most life insurance policies issued in Connecticut include a two-year contestability period. During this window, insurers may review claims more closely and rescind policies based on alleged misrepresentations in the application. After the contestability period ends, insurers generally must honor the policy unless they can prove intentional fraud.

Importantly, not every error or omission will justify rescinding coverage. Only material misstatements — ones that would have affected the insurer’s decision to issue or price the policy — matter. Innocent or irrelevant mistakes typically do not give the insurer the right to avoid payment.

If your life insurance claim is being denied based on contestability arguments, you need a strong legal advocate who understands Connecticut insurance law and how to push back against unfair practices.

How to Protect Your Rights After a Life Insurance Denial in Connecticut

If you receive a denial letter from a life insurance company, the actions you take next are critical to protecting your claim. Here’s what you should do immediately:

Request the full policy, including any riders or amendments, and review the denial letter closely.
Save all written communication, emails, and notes regarding conversations with the insurance company.
Refrain from giving additional statements or documents to the insurer without speaking with an attorney first.
Act quickly. Connecticut law and federal ERISA rules (for employer-provided life insurance) often impose strict deadlines on appeals and lawsuits.
Contact an experienced Connecticut life insurance attorney who can assess the strength of your case and develop a strategy to recover your benefits.

Insurers often hope that beneficiaries will feel intimidated or accept their denial without question. Early legal intervention can change the balance of power and dramatically increase the chances of recovery.

Our Approach to Life Insurance Disputes in Connecticut

When you hire our firm, you are hiring a team that focuses exclusively on fighting life insurance claim denials. We understand the complex laws and industry tactics that insurers use — and we know how to fight back. Our attorneys will:

Analyze your policy and the insurer’s stated reasons for denial.
Investigate whether the insurer violated Connecticut insurance law or federal ERISA requirements.
Gather medical records, application documents, and other evidence to strengthen your case.
Handle all negotiations with the insurance company to relieve you of the burden.
Pursue litigation when necessary to enforce your rights and seek full compensation.
Pursue additional damages if the insurer’s denial amounts to bad faith conduct.

Our goal is simple: maximize your recovery, resolve your claim as efficiently as possible, and hold the insurer accountable for any wrongful behavior.

Connecticut Denied Life Insurance Claims: Answers to Common Questions

My Connecticut life insurance claim was denied—what should I do first?

You should immediately contact a Connecticut life insurance lawyer. For example, we’ve helped clients overturn denials based on vague technicalities that insurers used to wrongfully deny legitimate claims.

I’ve been served with a life insurance interpleader lawsuit in Connecticut—how do I respond?

You must respond through legal channels to protect your rights. For instance, if you fail to respond, the court could award the benefit to another claimant without hearing your side.

I’m in the middle of a beneficiary dispute in Connecticut—can a lawyer help me?

Yes. Beneficiary disputes are common when ex-spouses or new partners are involved. For example, we litigate cases where a sudden beneficiary change was made under suspicious circumstances.

Why would an accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) claim be denied in Connecticut?

AD&D claims are often denied by blaming the death on illness or alcohol. For instance, we challenge denials when insurers misclassify a car accident death as health-related without proper evidence.

Can a lapsed life insurance policy still pay out in Connecticut?

Yes, in some cases. For example, if the insurer failed to properly notify the insured about a lapse, we argue the policy remained active at the time of death.

What happens if the policyholder made a mistake on their life insurance application in Connecticut?

A mistake only matters if it was material and intentional. For instance, omitting minor allergies should not void a policy if the death was unrelated to that information.

Is an alcohol exclusion enough for a life insurance company to deny a claim in Connecticut?

Not always. For example, if alcohol was present but not the cause of death, we argue the exclusion does not apply and fight the denial.

How should I handle a denied ERISA life insurance claim in Connecticut?

You get only one administrative appeal under ERISA, and it must be thorough. For example, we build complete appeals with medical records, expert opinions, and legal arguments to maximize your chance of success.

What can I do if my claim is denied during the contestability period in Connecticut?

Even during the contestability window, the insurer must prove material misrepresentation. For instance, misstating your weight slightly on the application shouldn’t void the policy if unrelated to the cause of death.

The denial letter says my claim was denied due to Connecticut law—what now?

Insurers often misuse Connecticut law. For example, we’ve reversed denials where insurers cited outdated statutes or ignored case law favoring the beneficiary.

Which Connecticut life insurance companies deny the most claims?

The Hartford, Aetna, Cigna, and Voya Financial are often reported for higher denial volumes. We challenge wrongful denials from all major insurers statewide.

Does Connecticut automatically remove an ex-spouse as a life insurance beneficiary after divorce?

Yes, unless the policyholder reaffirms the ex-spouse after divorce. For example, if no reaffirmation occurs, we argue the ex-spouse’s rights to the benefit are automatically revoked.

Is Connecticut a community property state, and how does that affect life insurance?

No, Connecticut is not a community property state. However, we sometimes argue for spousal rights if marital funds were used to pay policy premiums.

Can a life insurance policy be overridden by a will in Connecticut?

No, the named beneficiary prevails. For instance, even if a will lists someone else, the life insurance payout must go to the listed beneficiary unless fraud is proven.

What happens if the insured died abroad—can I still file a claim?

Yes, but foreign deaths often trigger additional scrutiny. For example, we help families prove death abroad met all policy requirements to secure payment.

A beneficiary change was made just before the policyholder died—is that challengeable?

Yes. For instance, if a dying insured changed the beneficiary under suspicious pressure, we can challenge the change based on undue influence or incapacity.

The insurer has delayed payment for months in Connecticut—is that legal?

Excessive delays may be bad faith. For example, if a claim is unjustifiably delayed beyond 60–90 days, we can pursue damages in addition to enforcing payment.

Why would a claim for accidental death be denied when the death clearly wasn’t from natural causes?

Insurers often misclassify accidents. For example, we use autopsy reports and medical experts to prove that injuries, not illness, caused the death under the policy’s definition.

The insurance agent made an error on the application—does that affect the claim?

If the mistake was due to agent error, the insurer is still liable. For example, if the agent improperly recorded medical history, we fight to enforce the policy.

Can I file a bad faith lawsuit in Connecticut for a denied life insurance claim?

Yes. Connecticut allows bad faith lawsuits. For example, if an insurer denied your claim without a valid investigation, you can seek damages beyond the policy amount.

Can suicide exclusions be enforced in Connecticut?

Only within the first two years of the policy. For example, if a death occurs after that window, the suicide exclusion no longer applies and we pursue payment.

Are employer-sponsored life insurance policies in Connecticut subject to ERISA rules?

Most are. For instance, we regularly handle appeals involving ERISA-governed life insurance plans for Connecticut employees.

Can the claim be denied if the insured failed to disclose a pre-existing condition?

Not if the omission was immaterial or unintentional. For example, forgetting to mention mild seasonal allergies shouldn’t void a policy if unrelated to the death.

What if there is no named beneficiary on the life insurance policy?

If no beneficiary is listed, the proceeds usually go to the estate. For instance, we assist families in Connecticut probate court to recover life insurance payouts.

A forged or suspicious beneficiary form was filed—can I contest that?

Yes. For example, if signatures don’t match official records, we can challenge the form’s validity and seek reinstatement of the rightful beneficiary.

Can an insurer cancel a life insurance policy without notifying the policyholder?

No, Connecticut law requires notice before cancellation. If proper notice was not given, we argue that the policy remained in force.

What happens if the policy was provided through a Connecticut union or professional group?

Union life insurance policies have special rules. For instance, we help members challenge wrongful denials based on union or group plan rules.

Do I still receive a share if I’m listed as one of several beneficiaries?

Yes. For example, if you’re one of three listed beneficiaries, you are entitled to your stated share even if other claimants dispute the division.

What if the policyholder disappeared and was declared legally dead in Connecticut?

Once a Connecticut court issues a presumption of death, we help families file the claim and secure the life insurance payout.

Is it too late to appeal if I waited a few months after receiving a denial?

Not necessarily. For example, if deadlines haven’t passed or new evidence emerges, we can often reopen or litigate the claim.

Can creditors claim life insurance proceeds in Connecticut?

Generally no, if there’s a named beneficiary. However, if the payout goes to the estate, creditors may have access. We help protect beneficiaries' rights.

What if the life insurance contract contains vague or unclear language?

Vague contract terms must be interpreted in favor of the beneficiary. For example, we use ambiguity in policy wording to fight unjust denials.

Can I reinstate a policy that lapsed due to non-payment if notice wasn’t provided properly?

Yes. If the insurer violated notice rules, we argue that the policy never validly lapsed and demand full payment.

Can a child be named as a life insurance beneficiary in Connecticut?

Yes, but minor children cannot directly access the funds. For instance, we help families set up custodial accounts or guardianships to manage the money.

Someone claims the insured verbally promised them the benefit—does that count?

No, life insurance requires written beneficiary designations. However, we investigate whether constructive trust remedies may apply in unusual circumstances.

Can a claim be denied due to illegal activity at the time of death?

Yes, but exclusions must be clearly written and proven. For example, we challenge denials where insurers wrongly claim a minor violation justifies nonpayment.

How long do I have to appeal or challenge a denied claim in Connecticut?

Deadlines vary by policy, but ERISA plans often require appeals within 180 days. For example, fast action maximizes your chance of winning an appeal.

2025 Connecticut Denied Life Insurance Claims: Settlements & Verdicts

Below are examples of Connecticut life insurance claims successfully resolved.

Shooting Connecticut denied life claim won $105,000.00
AIG Life alleged misrepresentation $40,000.00
Atlantic American breast cancer denial $103,000.00
TIAA coronavirus denial we resolved $67,000.00
Country Financial smoking in records $13,000.00
Veterans contested by siblings resolved $59,000.00
Boston Mutual COVID-19 denial $320,000.00
Bank of America autoerotic asphyxiation death $102,000.00
Southern Farm Bureau medical records $30,000.00
Bright house Financial exclusion $91,300.00
MassMutual coronavirus exclusion $300,000.00
Denial of SGLI claim beneficiary change $403,500.00
TIAA beneficiary dispute we won$165,000.00
Accidental Death & Dismemberment $500,000.00
North American Life heroin denial $25,000.00
Columbian Mutual Life prescription drug $102,000.00
Denial of FEGLI claim resolved $143,600.00
Effortless six month delay resolved $25,000.00
Stonebridge Life denial of benefits $250,000.00
Union National denial for misrepresentation $252,800.00
Stamford court orders divorce settlement $2,000,000.00
Bad faith life insurance denial of benefits $685,000.00
Forethought robbery felony exclusion $137,000.00
Denied FEGLI claim dispute we resolved $285,000.00
Security Life denial divorce spouse ex-spouse $309,200.00
Avon suspicious circumstances death $713,000.00
Connecticut denied life insurance claim $2,048,000.00
Waterbury grace period issue overcome $750,000.00
Denied SGLI claim that we resolved $402,400.00
Danbury dangerous activity exclusion won $932,000.00
Branford invalid beneficiary designation $504,000.00
Divorce and orders from the judge dispute $390,000.00
Denied AD&D claim heart attack dispute $739,000.00
Monarch Life denied due to medical records $277,000.00
Bridgeport foreign death problem we won $1,000,000.00
Protective Life alcohol exclusion denial $405,500.00
Midland Life autoerotic asphyxiation denial $104,150.00
American Equity denied felony exclusion $152,000.00
The Hartford interpleader lawsuit plaintiff $303,750.00
Mutual Benefit Life long delay of benefits $293,100.00
Denied life insurance claim Connecticut $653,650.00
Stonebridge wrong age on the application $208,370.00
Colonial Penn beneficiary dispute $455,000.00
American Life contestable period delay $101,300.00
Hartford suspicious circumstances death $892,000.00
Norwalk no coverage at the time of death $677,000.00
Allianz foreign death denial resolved $340,000.00
New Haven mistake on the application $750,000.00
Pan American self-inflicted injury $278,200.00

Every denied claim is unique. In Connecticut, we know how to maximize your chance of recovering the full life insurance payout.

Legal References – Connecticut

Connecticut Contestability Clause Law: Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 38a-451, life insurance policies in Connecticut become incontestable after two years from the policy issue date, except for nonpayment of premiums. During the contestability period, insurers may deny claims if the insured made material misrepresentations on the application.
Automatic Revocation of Ex-Spouse Beneficiaries: According to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-36g, Connecticut law revokes a former spouse’s beneficiary designation on a life insurance policy upon divorce or annulment, unless the policyholder reaffirms the designation after the marital dissolution.
Community Property Laws: Connecticut is not a community property state. A surviving spouse is not automatically entitled to life insurance benefits unless named as a beneficiary or awarded rights through divorce proceedings or court order.
ERISA & Group Policies: Life insurance benefits provided through an employer and governed by ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) may override Connecticut law in disputes over beneficiaries, particularly those involving ex-spouses or spousal claims.

For more information on insurance regulations and consumer protections in Connecticut, you can visit the Connecticut Insurance Department or explore nationwide insurance resources through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

The Lassen Law Firm is a national practice focused exclusively on life insurance litigation. Founded by Christian Lassen, Esq., the firm has recovered hundreds of millions for clients in all 50 states. All website content is written or reviewed by Mr. Lassen personally to ensure accuracy and authority.