Florida Life Insurance Lawyer 

Life Insurance Lawyers Serving All 67 Florida Counties

Christian Lassen, Esq. | 25 Years Experience | Hundreds of Millions Recovered

If your life insurance claim was denied in Florida, you're not alone and you're not without options. At The Lassen Law Firm, we focus exclusively on life insurance litigation and have helped families across Florida recover millions in wrongfully denied death benefits. Whether your case involves a policy lapse, misrepresentation allegation, exclusion clause, or a contested beneficiary, we know how to challenge the denial and fight for the payout your family deserves.

Led by nationally recognized life insurance attorney Christian Lassen, quoted by The Wall Street Journal and rated 10.0 by AVVO, our firm represents clients throughout the entire state. We handle denied life insurance claims in all 67 counties, and we never charge a fee unless we recover for you.

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

Life insurance companies in Florida don’t always honor their obligations, and families are sometimes left without the support they were promised. If you're facing a denied life insurance claim in Florida, The Lassen Law Firm is here to pursue justice and work to secure the benefits that rightfully belong to you.

Florida sees frequent life insurance beneficiary disputes, often involving ex-spouses, updated designations, or allegations of undue influence. If you're facing a life insurance beneficiary dispute in Florida, The Lassen Law Firm can help you take legal action to enforce your rights and secure the benefits intended for you.

When life insurance beneficiaries disagree in Florida, insurers commonly file an interpleader lawsuit in Florida, asking the court to resolve the dispute and distribute the proceeds properly.

Life insurance claims in Florida can present unique challenges, particularly when dealing with denied benefits or bad faith insurance practices. At The Lassen Law Firm, we’re committed to helping Floridians navigate these complexities and secure the payouts they deserve. 

As experienced life insurance attorneys handling cases across all 50 states, we’ve recovered hundreds of millions in policies for our clients. The Lassen Law Firm combines expertise, dedication, and personalized attention to ensure justice is served for individuals and families alike. 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 25 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.

Denied a Life Insurance Claim in Florida? Our Attorneys Are Ready to Help

Life insurance is meant to provide families with stability and peace of mind after the death of a loved one. Yet in Florida, too many beneficiaries face obstacles when trying to collect life insurance proceeds. Insurance companies often deny valid claims, delay payment unnecessarily, or attempt to underpay. If your life insurance claim has been denied, our experienced Florida life insurance attorneys can step in and help you fight for the benefits you deserve. Our firm routinely assists beneficiaries in Florida who are dealing with a denied accidental death and dismemberment claim after a sudden loss.

Insurers know that grieving families are vulnerable. They may use complicated policy language, vague exclusions, or strict interpretations of minor errors to avoid paying out benefits. These tactics can leave families struggling, but you are not without recourse. We handle life insurance disputes on a contingency basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover benefits for you.

Reasons Life Insurance Companies Deny Claims in Florida

Every denied claim has its own backstory. However, certain patterns are common when it comes to life insurance denials in Florida. These include:

Claims of Misrepresentation

Insurers may accuse the insured of failing to disclose important information on the application, such as health conditions, lifestyle risks, or prior medical treatments.

Policy Lapses for Alleged Nonpayment

Florida life insurers often point to missed payments as the reason for denial, but a life insurance lapse for nonpayment can be disputed when notices were never properly issued.

Deaths Occurring During Contestable Period

If the insured died within two years after purchasing the policy, insurers often conduct detailed investigations looking for reasons to deny based on the application.

Exclusion Causes

Certain causes of death, such as suicide, drug overdose, or hazardous activities, may be excluded depending on how the policy is written.

Beneficiary Disputes

If the named beneficiary was changed near the end of the insured’s life, or if multiple parties claim the right to benefits, insurers may delay or refuse payment.

Group Life Errors

Mistakes by employers in administering group life policies can leave families unexpectedly uninsured or fighting for promised benefits.

Delays Related to Criminal Investigations

If the cause of death is under investigation, insurers often hold payment, sometimes beyond what is reasonable.

These denials often seem final, but many can be challenged, and successfully overturned, with the right legal approach.

Understanding the Role of the Contestability Period in Florida Life Insurance Claims

Florida law allows life insurers to challenge claims more aggressively during the first two years after a policy is issued. This timeframe, known as the contestability period, gives insurers the opportunity to rescind policies based on material misstatements discovered after the death of the insured.

However, the contestability period does not give insurers unlimited power. The alleged misstatement must be material, it must have influenced the insurer’s decision to issue the policy or set its terms. Simple mistakes, minor errors, or irrelevant omissions are typically not enough to justify denial under Florida law.

If an insurer in Florida cites a contestability investigation as the reason for denying your claim, it’s important to seek experienced legal representation to ensure your rights are protected.

What to Do After a Life Insurance Claim Denial in Florida

The steps you take immediately after a life insurance denial can heavily influence the outcome of your case. If you’ve been notified that a claim has been denied:

• Request the full policy and any related application materials from the insurance company.
• Read the denial letter carefully and document the reasons given by the insurer.
• Preserve all written communication and notes from conversations with the insurance company.
• Refrain from giving any new statements or submitting documents until you speak with an attorney.
• Contact a Florida life insurance lawyer who can review your situation and develop a plan to challenge the denial.

Insurance companies often set strict appeal deadlines, especially for group life insurance claims governed by ERISA. Delays can cost you your rights, so it’s important to act swiftly.

How Our Florida Life Insurance Attorneys Pursue Wrongfully Denied Claims

Our attorneys understand the strategies insurance companies use, and we know how to beat them. Whether your denial stems from alleged misrepresentation, policy lapse, beneficiary disputes, or exclusions, we are prepared to challenge the insurer’s decision through negotiation, administrative appeals, or litigation if necessary.

When you hire us to handle your Florida life insurance claim, we will:

• Examine the policy terms, application, and denial letter for weaknesses in the insurer’s arguments.
• Gather evidence to counter claims of misrepresentation, nonpayment, or exclusion.
• Manage all communications and negotiations with the insurer on your behalf.
• File an appeal or lawsuit if necessary to enforce your rights.
• Pursue damages for bad faith conduct if the insurer’s actions violated Florida’s insurance laws.

Our commitment is to secure the full policy benefits for you as quickly as possible, without unnecessary delay or drawn-out battles.

Military and federal employee life insurance claims are often denied based on incomplete records or administrative missteps. Our firm helps Florida families recover benefits from denied SGLI claims and fights back when FEGLI life insurance claims are unjustly denied by government agencies.

Group life insurance provided through employment is commonly subject to ERISA regulations. If your claim was denied under an ERISA-governed policy in Florida, we can guide you through the federal appeal process and work to secure the full benefits you’re owed.

Florida Denied Life Insurance Claims: Answers to Common Questions

What should I do if my life insurance claim was denied in Florida?

You should consult a Florida life insurance attorney immediately. For example, we recently helped a widow in Tampa recover full benefits after the insurer wrongly claimed the policy had lapsed due to a paperwork error.

What if I’ve been served with an interpleader lawsuit involving a Florida life insurance policy?

You must respond in court to protect your rights. In one case out of Jacksonville, we defended a rightful beneficiary who almost lost the payout because they didn’t initially realize a legal response was required.

How do I handle a beneficiary dispute in Florida?

Legal help is critical. We resolved a case in Miami where both an ex-spouse and a new spouse claimed the same life insurance proceeds after a sudden death.

Why would a Florida accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) claim be denied?

Insurers often argue that the death wasn't truly accidental. In one Orlando case, we contested a denial where a car crash was blamed on a medical event, even though police reports proved it was purely accidental.

Can a life insurance claim be denied in Florida due to a policy lapse?

Yes, but many denials are improper. For instance, we overturned a denial in Fort Lauderdale where the insurer failed to send required lapse notices under Florida law before canceling the policy.

Is a claim denial due to misrepresentation on the application valid in Florida?

Only if the misrepresentation was material and intentional. We won a case in Sarasota where the insurer cited a minor error about the insured’s weight, an irrelevant fact unrelated to the cause of death.

Can a claim be denied because alcohol was involved in the insured’s death?

Possibly, but it’s not automatic. We forced payment in a Clearwater case where alcohol was present but unrelated to the fatal fall that triggered the claim.

How does the contestability period affect life insurance claims in Florida?

During the first two years, insurers can contest claims based on alleged misstatements. Recently, we beat a denial in Tallahassee where the contested issue had nothing to do with the cause of death.

What should I do if my denial letter says Florida law supports the denial?

Get a legal review. In a St. Petersburg case, we discovered the insurer misquoted Florida law entirely to scare the beneficiary into abandoning the claim.

Which life insurance companies deny the most claims in Florida?

Florida Combined Life and American Fidelity are frequently cited in denied claims. We’ve successfully challenged wrongful denials from these and many other insurers statewide.

What happens if the insured died during a high-risk activity like skydiving?

Some policies exclude extreme sports, but exclusions must be specific. We secured a payout for a Daytona Beach family after an insurer tried to deny coverage for a recreational parachuting accident.

Can I fight a denial where the insurer claims the death was suspicious or under investigation?

Yes. In one Gainesville case, we overturned a delay where the insurer cited “pending investigation” even though there was no criminal inquiry.

What if the insurer says a condition was omitted from the application?

They must prove it was material. We recovered benefits in Naples after an insurer tried to deny a claim over an omitted knee surgery that had nothing to do with the death.

Can I still collect if the insured died in another country?

Often, yes. We won payment in a case out of West Palm Beach where the insured died of natural causes while traveling in South America, despite the insurer’s denial based on location.

Does Florida have an automatic revocation law for ex-spouses named as life insurance beneficiaries?

Yes. We represented a daughter in Orlando who recovered the benefit after an insurer incorrectly paid it to the deceased’s ex-spouse in violation of Florida’s revocation-upon-divorce statute.

Is Florida a community property state, and can a spouse claim life insurance proceeds?

No, Florida isn't community property. However, we helped a surviving spouse in Fort Myers claim a share of proceeds by proving marital funds paid the policy premiums.

Can a will override a named life insurance beneficiary in Florida?

No. In a Coral Gables case, a relative attempted to rely on a new will, but we preserved the rights of the original beneficiary listed on the policy.

What if a life insurance agent filled out the application incorrectly?

The insurer may still be liable. We defended a claim in Ocala where the agent misreported health history even though the insured disclosed all information honestly.

What if the policy was recently changed and a new beneficiary was added?

Late changes are often suspicious. We successfully challenged a last-minute change made while the insured was hospitalized in Boynton Beach.

Can I file a lawsuit if my Florida life insurance claim is delayed for too long?

Yes. In one Pensacola case, we filed a bad faith lawsuit after an insurer delayed payment for eight months without justification, recovering both the benefit and extra damages.

What happens if the beneficiary form was forged?

We can challenge it. In a Lakeland case, we used handwriting experts to prove the form was forged and restored benefits to the rightful recipient.

Can a life insurance claim be denied due to minor illegal activity?

Only if the activity caused the death. In a Jacksonville Beach case, we overturned a denial where a traffic stop was wrongly cited as a felony-related exclusion.

Are group life insurance policies in Florida governed by ERISA?

Most are. We handle ERISA appeals across Florida, including a $212,000 recovery in Fort Lauderdale after the employer botched the enrollment paperwork.

Can a policy be reinstated if notice of lapse wasn’t properly sent?

Yes. We reinstated a policy in Brandon after proving the insurer failed to send required notices under Florida law.

What if there is no named beneficiary on the policy?

The benefit typically goes to the estate. We helped a family in Boca Raton recover a $250,000 payout through probate court.

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

Yes, but minors can’t access the funds directly. In Melbourne, we set up a court-approved custodial account for a child beneficiary.

What if multiple people claim the insured verbally promised them the money?

Verbal promises don’t override written documents. In Tallahassee, we defended the rightful beneficiary against a family member who presented a handwritten note.

Can ambiguous policy language be used to deny a claim in Florida?

No. Courts interpret unclear terms in favor of the policyholder. In a Clearwater case, we challenged a denial based on vague "accidental death" wording and recovered full benefits.

Can creditors claim life insurance proceeds in Florida?

Generally not if there’s a named beneficiary. In a Delray Beach case, we defended a payout from being diverted to creditors.

What if the insured disappeared and was declared dead?

Once declared legally dead, the claim can proceed. We helped a Tampa family file a claim after a five-year disappearance.

Is it too late to fight a denial if several months have passed?

Not necessarily. We reopened a claim six months after denial in St. Augustine and recovered the full benefit after presenting new evidence.

Can I get only part of the benefit if I’m a co-beneficiary?

Yes. We enforced a 50/50 payout in Winter Park when one co-beneficiary tried to claim the entire amount.

What if the life insurance policy came from a Florida union or trade association?

Union plans follow unique rules. We helped a union worker in Homestead recover benefits despite administrative delays.

Can I challenge a denial involving a suspicious last-minute beneficiary change?

Yes. In Kissimmee, we reversed a change made shortly before the insured's death by showing evidence of coercion and mental incapacity.