Life Insurance Lawyer Hawaii

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


Families in Hawaii can be left in a difficult financial position when a life insurance provider refuses to honor a policy. If you’re struggling with a life insurance company denial in Hawaii, The Lassen Law Firm is ready to take legal action on your behalf and fight for the benefits you’ve been unfairly denied.

Life insurance beneficiary disputes in Hawaii can arise when family members challenge a designation or when policy updates are unclear or improperly executed. If you're dealing with a life insurance beneficiary dispute in Hawaii, The Lassen Law Firm can provide experienced legal support to help you secure what you’re rightfully owed.

When more than one person claims life insurance benefits in Hawaii, insurers often file an interpleader lawsuit in Hawaii so the court can decide who should receive the proceeds.

Experienced Life Insurance Lawyers Hawaii: The Lassen Law Firm

Dealing with life insurance claims in Hawaii can feel overwhelming, especially when faced with denied benefits or delayed payouts. At The Lassen Law Firm, we’re here to provide trusted legal support to individuals and families across the Aloha State. Whether you’re in Honolulu, Hilo, Kailua, or anywhere else in Hawaii, we are dedicated to helping you recover the benefits you deserve.

With hundreds of millions in policies recovered, we’ve built a reputation as experienced life insurance attorneys serving clients nationwide. From bad faith insurance practices to complex claim disputes, The Lassen Law Firm is here to fight for your rights with dedication and expertise. 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 Denied in Hawaii? You Deserve Answers and Action

Losing a loved one is a deeply painful experience, and life insurance is supposed to ease some of that burden — not add to it. Sadly, in Hawaii, many families find themselves facing unexpected denials or long delays when trying to collect life insurance proceeds. If your life insurance claim was denied, our Hawaii life insurance attorneys are here to help you seek the full benefits that are rightfully yours.

Insurance companies know how to protect their bottom line. They often deny claims for reasons that may not hold up under legal scrutiny. If you feel overwhelmed by the process or suspect you’ve been treated unfairly, you are not alone. We offer free consultations, and we only collect a fee if we recover benefits for you.

Common Challenges with Life Insurance Claims in Hawaii

Life insurance companies use many tactics to justify denying claims, some of which are questionable or outright wrongful. In Hawaii, the most common issues we see include:

  • Accusations of Misrepresentation: Insurers may argue that the insured failed to disclose important information about their health, travel, or lifestyle risks when applying.

  • Policy Lapses for Missed Premiums: A lapse is a common excuse for denial, but Hawaii law imposes strict requirements on how insurers must notify policyholders before terminating coverage.

  • Deaths Occurring During the Contestability Period: Deaths within two years of policy issuance give insurers an opportunity to investigate for discrepancies in the application.

  • Exclusions for High-Risk Activities: Deaths connected to activities like scuba diving, skydiving, or even travel to certain regions may fall into policy exclusions depending on the wording.

  • Beneficiary Disputes or Last-Minute Changes: Disagreements about the proper beneficiary often cause delays or denials until the courts intervene.

  • Errors with Employer-Provided Group Life Insurance: Administrative mistakes made by employers in offering or maintaining group coverage can jeopardize rightful claims.

  • Delays Linked to Criminal Investigations: In cases where a death is suspicious, insurers sometimes withhold payment pending the outcome of law enforcement inquiries — but these delays must be reasonable.

Just because an insurance company cites a policy provision or contestability issue does not mean they are legally entitled to deny your claim. Our team can investigate and demand fair treatment.

The Importance of the Contestability Period in Hawaii Life Insurance Policies

Nearly every life insurance policy issued in Hawaii includes a two-year contestability period. During this window, insurers can scrutinize claims more carefully and deny payment if they discover material misstatements made on the original application. After two years, however, their ability to contest claims becomes far more limited unless they can prove intentional fraud.

It’s important to understand that not every mistake justifies denial. Only material misrepresentations — statements that would have altered the insurer’s decision to issue or price the policy — are grounds for rescission. Harmless mistakes or omissions generally cannot be used to deny benefits under Hawaii law.

If your claim has been denied based on contestability arguments, don’t take the insurer’s word for it. Our attorneys know how to challenge wrongful rescissions and fight for payment.

What to Do Immediately After a Life Insurance Denial in Hawaii

When a life insurance claim is denied, fast and careful action can protect your rights. If you’ve received a denial notice:

  • Obtain a full copy of the insurance policy, the application, and any relevant amendments.

  • Review the insurer’s denial letter in detail and document the reasons given.

  • Save all correspondence between you and the insurance company, including call notes and emails.

  • Avoid making further statements or providing new documents to the insurer without legal advice.

  • Contact a Hawaii life insurance lawyer to review your situation and guide you through the next steps.

Time limits can be short — especially for policies governed by ERISA — so it's important not to wait.

How Our Hawaii Life Insurance Attorneys Build Strong Cases

When you hire our firm, you gain a team that focuses exclusively on fighting life insurance denials. We bring extensive knowledge of Hawaii insurance laws and a strong record of holding insurers accountable. Here’s how we approach your case:

  • We analyze your policy language and the insurer’s claimed reasons for denial.

  • We investigate the facts thoroughly, seeking to uncover errors, unfair practices, or bad faith behavior by the insurer.

  • We manage all communications with the insurance company so you can focus on healing.

  • We prepare administrative appeals for group policies where necessary.

  • We file lawsuits when insurers refuse to pay or act in bad faith under Hawaii law.

  • We fight not only for the full policy amount, but for additional damages when the insurer’s conduct warrants it.

You don't have to fight a life insurance denial alone. With our help, you can stand up to the insurance company and pursue the benefits your loved one intended you to receive.

Hawaii Denied Life Insurance Claims: Answers to Common Questions

What steps should I take if my life insurance claim is denied in Hawaii?

You should immediately consult a Hawaii life insurance attorney. For example, we recently helped a widow recover benefits after an insurer wrongly cited an outdated exclusion clause.

How do I respond to a life insurance interpleader lawsuit in Hawaii?

You must file a legal response or risk forfeiting your rights. We defended a client who almost lost her late husband's payout when his former partner filed a competing claim.

I'm involved in a beneficiary dispute in Hawaii—what should I do?

Disputes often involve family conflicts. In one case, we helped children of the deceased recover proceeds after a new spouse challenged their right as beneficiaries.

Why would an accidental death insurance claim be denied in Hawaii?

Insurers frequently argue the death was caused by illness, not accident. We reversed a denial where a hiking fall was wrongly blamed on a "pre-existing heart condition."

Is policy lapse a valid reason to deny a life insurance claim in Hawaii?

It can be, but many lapses are improper. We reinstated a policy after proving the insurer never sent the legally required lapse notice to the policyholder’s last known address.

Can a mistake or misrepresentation on the life insurance application void the claim?

Only if it’s material and intentional. We fought and won a case where an innocent error about past smoking habits was used to deny a claim after a car accident.

Can an insurer in Hawaii deny a claim due to an alcohol-related exclusion?

Sometimes—but exclusions must be clear. We overturned a denial where alcohol was present but unrelated to the fatal boating accident that triggered the claim.

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

Act quickly. We won an ERISA case by submitting a comprehensive appeal backed by expert medical reports before the insurer made its final decision.

How can I fight a life insurance denial during the contestability period in Hawaii?

We successfully fought a denial where the insurer tried to void a claim based on an omitted allergy—something completely unrelated to the insured’s drowning death.

My denial letter says the claim was rejected under Hawaii law—can I still win?

Yes. Insurers often misquote statutes. We reversed a denial where the insurer wrongly applied a law about suicide exclusions that didn’t match the case facts.

Which life insurance companies in Hawaii deny the most claims?

Companies like Pacific Guardian Life and AIG often appear in denial cases. We've successfully secured payouts from both through negotiation and litigation.

Does Hawaii law automatically revoke a life insurance beneficiary designation for an ex-spouse?

Yes. In one case, we helped the rightful beneficiary recover the payout after the ex-spouse incorrectly claimed entitlement post-divorce.

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

Yes. We helped a surviving spouse claim half the policy proceeds even though the deceased had named only one child as beneficiary, due to premiums being paid with marital funds.

Can a will override a life insurance beneficiary designation in Hawaii?

No. We defeated a challenge where a new will tried to redirect proceeds that belonged to the original named beneficiary under the policy.

Can a claim be denied if the policyholder died overseas?

Not automatically. We recovered benefits after an insurer tried to deny a payout because the insured died in Japan, even though no foreign death exclusion applied.

Is a last-minute change in beneficiary grounds for contesting the claim?

Yes. We successfully challenged a change made days before death, showing the insured was heavily medicated and lacked legal capacity.

What if the insurer takes months to make a decision or issue payment?

Unreasonable delays can be bad faith. We won additional compensation after forcing a company to pay a claim they sat on for eight months without justification.

Can the insurer argue that a death wasn’t accidental to avoid paying an AD&D claim?

They often try. We forced payment when an insurer misclassified a fatal surfing injury as a "medical event" to deny AD&D coverage.

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

If the agent made the mistake, the insurer may still be liable. We overturned a denial after proving the agent misrecorded the insured’s prescription medication history.

Is it possible to sue for bad faith in Hawaii over a denied claim?

Yes. In one case, we obtained punitive damages against an insurer that denied a claim after intentionally misreading the death certificate.

Are suicide exclusions enforceable in Hawaii?

Only if the death occurred during the exclusion period. We reversed a denial where the policy’s two-year suicide clause had already expired.

Are work-related life insurance plans in Hawaii governed by ERISA?

Most are. We handled a Hawaii-based ERISA claim where the insurer wrongly delayed payout and used improper claims procedures.

If the policyholder didn’t disclose a health condition, can the insurer deny the claim?

Only if the omission was intentional and material. We beat a denial where the alleged non-disclosure (an old asthma diagnosis) had nothing to do with the fatal car accident.

What if no beneficiary was named on the policy?

We guided a family through Hawaii probate court to claim proceeds when the insured failed to name a beneficiary.

Can a forged or suspicious beneficiary form be challenged in Hawaii?

Yes. We successfully invalidated a fraudulent form by using handwriting experts and testimony from hospital staff who witnessed undue influence.

Does Hawaii require notice before canceling a life insurance policy?

Yes. We reinstated a policy after showing the insurer failed to send mandatory written notice before claiming a lapse.

Are union-sponsored life insurance policies different?

Yes. We recently enforced a payout under a Hawaii teachers’ union plan after the insurer misinterpreted the plan's unique eligibility requirements.

Do co-beneficiaries automatically split the payout equally in Hawaii?

Generally yes. We ensured a co-beneficiary received her full share after another attempted to claim the entire policy in probate court.

Can I collect a life insurance payout if the insured disappeared and was later declared dead?

Yes. We helped a family secure benefits after obtaining a judicial declaration of death for a missing fisherman.

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

Not necessarily. We reopened a Hawaii claim four months after denial, arguing the insurer’s notice of rights was deficient under ERISA rules.

Are life insurance payouts safe from creditors in Hawaii?

Usually yes. We blocked creditor claims against a payout by proving it passed directly to the named beneficiary and wasn’t part of the estate.

Can unclear or ambiguous policy wording lead to denial?

It shouldn’t. We used ambiguity in policy language to win payment where the insurer tried to deny coverage based on vague accident definitions.

Can a policy be reinstated if it lapsed without proper notice?

Yes. We reinstated a Hawaii policy and secured benefits after showing the insurer’s grace period notice was mailed to the wrong address.

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

Yes. We helped a family set up a custodial account to manage a $250,000 payout for a 10-year-old minor beneficiary.

What if someone else claims the insured verbally promised them the money?

Only written designations count. We defeated multiple claims based on hearsay promises that lacked any legal backing.

Can a claim be denied due to involvement in illegal activity?

Possibly, but it must be proven. We overturned a denial where the insurer alleged illegal activity but failed to connect it to the actual cause of death.

How long do I have to challenge a denied claim in Hawaii?

Deadlines vary based on ERISA or state law. Some appeals must be filed within 60 days. Immediate legal review is critical to preserve your rights.

2025 Hawaii Denied Life Insurance Claims: settlements & verdicts

Below are examples of Hawaii life insurance claims successfully resolved.

  • Metropolitan Life lapse of payment $97,000.00
  • CMFG Life coronavirus denied payment $30,000.00
  • Banner Life sickness exclusion we won $105,000.00
  • Denied SGLI claim beneficiaries $403,127.00
  • Accidental Death & Dismemberment $890,000.00
  • Navy Life girlfriend versus ex-spouse $406,430.00
  • Woodmen Life prescription drug denial $65,000.00
  • Accordia Life lapse of policy we won $50,000.00
  • Lafayette Life felony exclusion resolved $25,000.00
  • Symetra long delay of payment resolved $77,000.00
  • AD&D denied life insurance claim won $740,000.00
  • AIG autoerotic asphyxiation denied claim $508,700.00
  • Forethought Life alcohol exclusion $159,000.00
  • CNO Financial coronavirus exclusion $51,000.00
  • Globe alcohol exclusion drunk driving $113,250.00
  • Confederation Life denial of benefits $77,000.00
  • Guarantee Security Life delay of claim $40,000.00
  • Maui mistake as to age on application $526,000.00
  • ERISA appeal of the life benefits won $104,000.00
  • Denied FEGLI claim resolved in 5 days $179,000.00
  • SGLI beneficiary dispute wife and ex-wife $400,000.00
  • Prudential irrevocable beneficiary dispute $364,000.00
  • AIG AD&D denial not accidental $512,430.00
  • Principal material misrepresentation $105,312.00
  • Denied SGLI claim dispute $402840.00
  • Hawaii denied life insurance claim $1,300,000.00
  • Oahu agent filled out the application $465,000.00
  • Fidelity 2 year contestability period $138,000.00
  • Denied AD&D claim shooting $730,900.00
  • Colonial suicide clause exclusion $282,000.00
  • VGLI appeal successfully resolved $400,000.00
  • Gerber beneficiary dispute interpleader $370,000.00
  • Denied life insurance claim Hawaii $518,400.00
  • Honolulu dispute among beneficiaries $1,020,000.00
  • Metlife accidental death benefit exclusions $430,000.00
  • SGLI dispute who is beneficiary $400,000.00
  • Bankers drug overdose denial $212,900.00

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

Legal References – Hawaii

  • Hawaii Contestability Clause Law: Under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 431:10D-102, life insurance policies in Hawaii become incontestable after two years from the date of issue, except for nonpayment of premiums. During the contestability period, insurers may deny claims based on material misrepresentations made in the application.

  • Automatic Revocation of Ex-Spouse Beneficiaries: According to Haw. Rev. Stat. § 560:2-804, a divorce or annulment automatically revokes a former spouse’s designation as a beneficiary on a life insurance policy, unless the policyholder reaffirms the designation after the divorce or the policy explicitly states otherwise.

  • Community Property Laws: Hawaii is an equitable distribution state, not a community property state. This means that life insurance proceeds are distributed based on what the court deems fair, which may not necessarily be equal, and a surviving spouse is not automatically entitled to life insurance proceeds unless named as a beneficiary or awarded rights through a court order.

  • ERISA & Group Policies: Employer-provided life insurance policies governed by ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) may preempt Hawaii’s state laws in cases involving contested beneficiaries, including disputes with former spouses.

For more information on insurance regulations and consumer protections in Hawaii, you can visit the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Insurance Division 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