FAQ

The insurer may file an interpleader lawsuit, asking a court to determine who is entitled to the proceeds.

Yes, but last-minute changes are often challenged based on claims of undue influence, lack of capacity, or fraud.

In many states, yes. Divorce may automatically revoke an ex-spouse’s right to life insurance unless reaffirmed afterward, but ERISA policies are different.

Sometimes. Handwritten beneficiary changes must comply with policy and legal requirements to be valid.

Changes made during incapacity can be challenged and potentially invalidated in court.

An interpleader is when the insurer deposits the life insurance proceeds with the court and lets the court decide who should receive them.

Yes, and if proven, the forged designation will be invalidated, and rightful beneficiaries will prevail.

Yes, but life insurance proceeds for minors are often placed in court-supervised trusts until the child reaches adulthood.

No. Once a beneficiary is named, parents have no authority to override the designation unless fraud or incapacity is proven.

Yes. Disputes often arise between current spouses and children from prior relationships.

Yes. If the designation provides for multiple beneficiaries, proceeds are typically divided as specified.

The proceeds will usually pass according to policy defaults or the insured’s estate laws.

Possibly. If divorce proceedings were underway but not finalized, beneficiary rights may be contested.

Deadlines vary by state, but it’s important to act promptly once a dispute is known.

Yes. In some cases, employer error in handling beneficiary forms can lead to legal liability.

Yes. Group life insurance policies under ERISA follow federal rules, and courts must follow the last valid designation on file.

Courts may review evidence to determine the insured’s intent and resolve ambiguity.

Yes. Deathbed changes often trigger challenges based on undue influence or lack of mental capacity.

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.

No. In most states, insurers must send a written notice of overdue premiums and warn of pending lapse before terminating coverage.

The policy may still be enforceable. Beneficiaries can challenge the lapse based on the insurer’s failure to provide required notice.

Yes. If the insured dies during the grace period, the policy is still considered active, and benefits should be paid.

Yes. In group life insurance policies, employers sometimes fail to forward premiums properly, leading to wrongful lapse denials.

Yes. If automatic payment setups fail through no fault of the insured, lapses may be challenged.

Some policies automatically borrow against cash value to cover missed payments. Failure to apply this correctly can lead to wrongful lapse claims.

Possibly. Some courts excuse nonpayment if the insured was mentally incapacitated and missed premiums without proper notice.

No. Reinstatement must occur while the insured is alive, but wrongful lapse denials can still be challenged posthumously.

Not without following strict notice and grace period rules. Beneficiaries can often challenge technical denials.

Deadlines vary by state, but it’s critical to act within 1 to 5 years depending on the policy and jurisdiction.

Not necessarily. Payments mailed within grace periods or accepted by insurers may keep coverage active.

Bank records, payment receipts, insurer correspondence, and premium notices are key evidence.

If the insurer used an outdated address despite updated information, lapse denials can often be overturned.

Possibly. If the insured submitted a reinstatement application before death, it may help challenge a lapse denial.

In some states, special grace periods and protections applied during COVID-19 emergencies. They can help fight wrongful lapses.

Only if the insurer followed all legal notice and grace period requirements. Otherwise, beneficiaries may still recover.

Misapplied premiums can lead to wrongful lapses — and courts often hold insurers accountable for these errors.

FEGLI (Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance) is group life insurance coverage offered to U.S. federal employees and retirees, managed through OFEGLI.

FEGLI claims are administered by OFEGLI, the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance, not by the employing federal agency.

Yes. You have the right to appeal a denial by requesting reconsideration, administrative review, and, if needed, filing a lawsuit in federal court.

Common reasons include outdated beneficiary designations, coverage lapses after separation, and election form disputes.

Deadlines vary, but appeals must usually be filed within 30 to 60 days of denial notice.

If no valid designation exists, FEGLI proceeds are paid according to statutory order: spouse, then children, then parents, etc.

Yes. Retirees must elect to continue FEGLI coverage or risk losing benefits if proper forms are not completed.

For basic FEGLI, no premiums are needed after age 65. For optional coverage, premiums may continue unless waived or converted.

No. Divorce does not automatically revoke a FEGLI beneficiary designation — it must be changed formally to be effective.

Yes. Coverage can lapse if premiums are not paid properly, especially after employment changes or retirement.

Yes, but only if optional accidental death coverage (Option A) was elected by the employee.

Yes. Beneficiaries can file suit in federal court if appeals fail.

No. FEGLI is governed by federal law under Title 5 of the U.S. Code, not by ERISA.

Errors by OFEGLI administrators can be challenged during appeals or in court.

Generally, no. Life insurance proceeds under FEGLI are not taxable to beneficiaries under current federal law.

Yes. If multiple parties claim benefits, OFEGLI may delay payment until legal resolution or court orders.

If the paperwork does not show valid election, optional coverage claims may be denied, but administrative errors can sometimes be corrected.

Yes. Attorneys can pressure OFEGLI to act, correct administrative errors, and litigate if necessary to enforce beneficiary rights.

Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) provides up to $500,000 of life insurance coverage for active duty military members, reservists, and eligible veterans.

Yes. If coverage was not properly converted to Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI), insurers may attempt to deny claims, although conversion mistakes can often be challenged.

If no valid beneficiary was named, SGLI benefits are distributed according to statutory order under federal law, starting with the spouse, then children, then parents.

Yes. Clerical mistakes by military personnel offices or insurers can result in wrongful denials, which may be legally challenged.

The VA oversees the SGLI program but private insurers administer claims. Disputes often involve appealing insurer decisions and, if necessary, filing suit in federal court.

SGLI policies generally exclude deaths occurring during commission of a felony. Insurers must prove the exclusion clearly applies.

Yes, unless the suicide occurred during the first two years of coverage — a standard contestability period common in life insurance.

SGLI policies typically do not exclude accidental deaths involving intoxication unless specific evidence supports applying an exclusion.

Errors in VA or military records can be challenged through legal action to restore SGLI benefits if evidence supports coverage.

Yes. Missing forms or incomplete proof of death can delay or deny payment until corrected — but wrongful denials can be challenged.

No. SGLI is governed by federal law (38 U.S.C. § 1965 et seq.), not ERISA, because it is a military program, not an employee benefit.

Most cases resolve within a few months after aggressive appeals or legal action. Complex cases may take longer if VA or military records need correction.

Yes. If appeals fail, you can sue the insurer or administrator responsible for wrongfully denying SGLI benefits.

An attorney ensures all records are gathered, appeals deadlines are met, wrongful denials are challenged, and lawsuits are filed if necessary.

Yes. Strict time limits apply to appeals and lawsuits involving SGLI — missing a deadline can permanently bar recovery.

No. Once a servicemember designates a beneficiary, remarriage does not automatically change the designation.

The insurer may file an interpleader action, asking a court to decide who is entitled to the proceeds based on law and facts.

Yes. Courts can order reinstatement of SGLI coverage if wrongful termination or administrative mistakes are proven.

ERISA claims require beneficiaries to exhaust administrative appeals before suing and are governed by federal court procedures and remedies.

Typically, you have 180 days from the date of denial to submit an administrative appeal under ERISA regulations.

No. Under ERISA, you must first exhaust the internal appeal process before filing a lawsuit.

Missing the ERISA appeal deadline usually means you lose your right to sue or recover benefits.

Typically, you sue the insurance company, not your employer, although in some cases employers can be liable for administrative errors.

No. Under ERISA, beneficiaries generally cannot recover punitive damages — only plan benefits, interest, attorney’s fees, and possibly equitable relief.

The administrative record includes all documents the insurer reviewed to make the decision. Courts usually limit review to this record in lawsuits.

Usually not. New evidence is rarely allowed in ERISA lawsuits unless special exceptions apply, making the appeal stage critical.

Yes. Skilled attorneys often negotiate settlements while preparing ERISA appeals, leveraging the insurer's risk of losing later in court.

You can challenge wrongful denials based on employer error, improper notice of conversion, or misapplication of plan terms.

Yes. Divorce can revoke prior beneficiary designations under some state laws, although ERISA preemption rules complicate these cases.

Yes. If accidental death coverage is employer-provided, it falls under ERISA's rules and appeal procedures.

Yes. If the employer fails to forward premiums properly, insurers may deny claims, but legal challenges may still succeed.

Yes. Insurers may investigate applications during the first two years, but still must act fairly and reasonably.

You may have legal claims against the employer under ERISA if misinformation caused loss of life insurance benefits.

Yes. Courts often award reasonable attorney’s fees to successful ERISA plaintiffs.

Most cases resolve within 6 to 18 months, depending on court schedules and settlement opportunities.

No. ERISA life insurance lawsuits are typically decided by a judge, not a jury.

An attorney helps by preparing the appeal correctly, preserving evidence for court, negotiating settlements, and litigating skillfully if necessary.

An accident typically means an unexpected, external event that causes death or serious injury, without contribution from sickness or intentional acts.

Yes. Many AD&D policies exclude coverage if the insured was intoxicated at the time of the accident, even if alcohol did not directly cause death.

An illness exclusion denies coverage if death or injury resulted directly or indirectly from a sickness rather than an accident. Insurers often misuse this to avoid paying.

Insurers sometimes argue that medical complications negate accident coverage. However, courts often side with beneficiaries if the initial cause was truly accidental.

Most AD&D policies exclude coverage if the insured died while committing a felony. Proof of the felony is required for denial to stand.

Possibly. Activities like skydiving, racing, or mountaineering may trigger exclusions if specifically listed in the policy.

Insurers review medical records, police reports, toxicology results, and witness statements to try to disprove accident claims.

Yes. You can appeal and demand the insurer's entire claims file. Appealing with an attorney's help greatly increases your chances of success.

Yes. You can appeal and demand the insurer's entire claims file. Appealing with an attorney's help greatly increases your chances of success.

Most cases resolve within a few months if aggressively pursued, although complex cases involving disputes over accident classification may take longer.

Yes. If the policy is governed by ERISA, you must exhaust the plan’s appeal process before filing a lawsuit.

Proof of loss typically includes medical documentation, accident reports, and death certificates showing the cause of injury or death.

They can try, but unreasonable delays may constitute bad faith. Insurers are required to act promptly in investigating and paying valid claims.

Demand full disclosure of their investigative file and consult an attorney to challenge their findings and argue for accident classification.

Usually not — unless a heart attack or stroke was caused by a traumatic accident. Each case depends heavily on specific facts.

Usually not — unless a heart attack or stroke was caused by a traumatic accident. Each case depends heavily on specific facts.

Yes. AD&D policies often pay partial benefits for loss of limbs, sight, hearing, or paralysis, depending on the severity and policy language.

Yes. Most policies exclude coverage for self-inflicted injuries or suicide, whether intentional or while mentally impaired.

Rarely. Most policies exclude overdoses, but if the overdose was unintentional and accidental, it may still qualify depending on policy language.

Yes. Insurers use toxicology reports to argue intoxication exclusions. Interpretation of these reports is often key to winning disputes.

Work with an experienced life insurance attorney to demand the insurer’s evidence, challenge wrongful denials, and litigate if necessary.

Common reasons include alleged misrepresentation on the application, policy lapse for non-payment, death during excluded activities, suicide within the contestability period, and disputes over beneficiaries.

Yes. Beneficiaries have the right to appeal a denial, request all evidence the insurer used to deny the claim, and challenge the decision with legal support.

Each state sets different deadlines, but typically you must take legal action within 1 to 5 years depending on the jurisdiction and the policy terms.

Insurers must prove that the misstatement was material — meaning it impacted their underwriting decision. Minor or unrelated errors are often not valid reasons to deny a claim.

Yes. If death occurs within the first two years of the policy, insurers can contest claims based on misrepresentations, but they still must act fairly and reasonably.

Yes, if death occurred within the policy’s suicide exclusion period (typically two years). After that, suicide exclusions generally no longer apply.

When multiple parties claim rights to the proceeds, insurers may delay payment or file an interpleader lawsuit, asking the court to decide who receives the money.

Yes. Many policies contain exclusions for deaths resulting from intoxication, but insurers must prove the exclusion clearly applies under policy terms.

You can challenge allegations of lapse, especially if the insurer failed to provide proper notice of non-payment or mishandled billing.

Yes. If the denial was improper or made in bad faith, you can sue for breach of contract and, in some cases, seek additional bad faith damages.

Yes. If the policy was provided through employment, ERISA laws govern appeals and lawsuits, often requiring exhaustion of administrative remedies first.

Many claims resolve within 30 to 90 days after legal action begins, but some complex cases may take longer depending on the insurer's cooperation.

For private policies, not always. For ERISA-governed policies through work, yes — you usually must exhaust administrative appeals first.

Yes, but they must have clear proof that exclusions apply. International death cases often involve extra verification but must still be handled fairly.

Most policies exclude deaths occurring during felonies. However, insurers must clearly prove the circumstances before denying the claim.

Often, yes. Insurers may dispute whether the death truly qualifies as an accident and may delay or deny payment based on technical definitions.

Only material misrepresentations that affected underwriting risk — not minor mistakes — justify claim denial under most state laws.

Hiring a lawyer greatly improves your chances of success. Insurers are less likely to wrongfully deny or lowball when legal pressure is applied.

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.

Common causes include missing documents, contestability investigations, disputes over cause of death, beneficiary issues, insurer stalling tactics, and suspicion of application misrepresentation.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Yes. Extended delays often precede a formal denial, especially if the insurer is building a case around an exclusion or application misrepresentation.

Consult an experienced life insurance attorney immediately. Prolonged delays often require legal action to force the insurer to honor the policy.

A lawyer demands accountability, negotiates directly with claims adjusters and supervisors, invokes bad faith penalties, and, when necessary, files lawsuits to force payment.

No. Hiring a lawyer usually shortens the timeline because insurers know they face legal consequences if they continue delaying a claim without justification.

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.

If a former spouse remains the named beneficiary, insurers may delay payment while investigating whether divorce decrees or automatic revocation statutes affect the designation.

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.

Yes. A missing or incomplete death certificate can significantly delay claim processing, as insurers require official proof of death to evaluate claims.

Yes. Deaths abroad often involve delays due to the need for official translations, consular reports, and additional verification of foreign death certificates.

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.

Sometimes. Older policies may involve administrative issues, missing records, or disputes over whether coverage was in force at the time of death.

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.

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.

We represent beneficiaries in life insurance disputes, including denied claims, delayed payouts, and interpleader lawsuits. Our firm focuses exclusively on life insurance cases.

The firm is led by Christian Lassen, Esq., a nationally recognized attorney with hundreds of millions in life insurance recoveries. He personally oversees every case and every piece of content on this website.

Yes. We represent clients in all 50 states and understand the specific laws that affect life insurance claims in each one, including revocation statutes and community property rules.

There is no upfront cost. We work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover money for you.

We only handle life insurance disputes, nothing else. Our singular focus and national scope make us uniquely qualified to take on complex and high-stakes cases.

We handle private individual policies, ERISA group life insurance plans, SGLI, FEGLI, and AD&D claims. We also handle cases involving lapse, misrepresentation, or multiple competing beneficiaries.

Yes. When you hire The Lassen Law Firm, you work directly with an attorney.

State laws often determine whether a beneficiary is valid, especially after divorce, remarriage, or when community property rules apply. Some states automatically revoke an ex-spouse’s rights, while others require an updated beneficiary form. These differences can result in denied or disputed life insurance claims.

When multiple people claim the same life insurance policy, insurers often file an interpleader lawsuit. Rather than deciding who should receive the money, the insurer deposits the funds with the court and lets the parties litigate. This commonly happens in disputes involving ex-spouses, stepchildren, or conflicting beneficiary forms.

You should contact an attorney right away. Insurers often delay or deny payment when there’s uncertainty, and strict legal deadlines apply. A life insurance lawyer can protect your rights and help you recover the full benefit—especially if you’re a surviving spouse, child, or named beneficiary facing a competing claim.

In certain states, especially community property states, a surviving spouse may have a legal claim to the life insurance proceeds—even if someone else is named as beneficiary. These cases often require legal action to enforce spousal rights.

Yes. If the life insurance policy was provided through an employer, ERISA—a federal law—may control the outcome. This can override state-specific rules about beneficiaries, divorce, or spousal rights. An experienced attorney can help navigate the interaction between state law and federal ERISA rules.

Life insurance disputes in the Northeast frequently involve contested beneficiary designations, particularly after divorce or separation. Insurers often initiate interpleader actions when multiple parties claim entitlement to the same policy benefits.

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Midwestern cases often center on automatic revocation statutes and disagreements between relatives and designated beneficiaries. Interpleader filings are common when insurers face uncertainty about who is legally entitled to the proceeds.

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The South sees a high volume of beneficiary conflicts tied to outdated policies or family disputes. Many cases lead to interpleader lawsuits, especially when surviving spouses and former partners assert competing claims.

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In the West, beneficiary disputes often arise in blended families and policies with multiple revisions. Insurers regularly resort to interpleader lawsuits to avoid liability when beneficiaries are in conflict or court intervention is needed.

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The insurer may file an interpleader lawsuit and deposit the funds with the court. We represent clients in these disputes to help secure the full benefit.

Yes, but these denials can often be overturned—especially if the insurer failed to provide proper lapse notices or payment grace periods.

If you’re facing a denied life insurance claim or beneficiary dispute, we can help. Contact us for a free consultation—no fees unless we win.