Life Insurance Lawyer Louisiana

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

Life insurance companies in Louisiana sometimes delay or deny payments for reasons that don’t hold up under legal scrutiny. If you're facing a life insurance claim dispute in Louisiana, The Lassen Law Firm can help you challenge the denial and seek the benefits your loved one intended you to have.

Beneficiary disputes in Louisiana can become especially complicated due to community property rules and last-minute policy changes. If you're involved in a life insurance beneficiary dispute in Louisiana, The Lassen Law Firm can help you assert your claim and pursue the benefits you’re owed.

In Louisiana, life insurance companies frequently file an interpleader action in Louisiana when they receive conflicting claims, allowing the court to determine the proper beneficiary and distribute the proceeds accordingly.

Trusted Life Insurance Lawyers Louisiana: The Lassen Law Firm

Life insurance claims in Louisiana can present unique challenges, especially when dealing with denied benefits or delayed payouts. At The Lassen Law Firm, we are committed to helping individuals and families across the Pelican State secure the benefits they rightfully deserve. From New Orleans to Baton Rouge, Shreveport to Lafayette, and every community in between, our team is here to provide expert legal representation. 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 Louisiana? We’re Ready to Fight for You

Life insurance is supposed to offer peace of mind and financial protection when it is needed most. Yet in Louisiana, many families are shocked to find their life insurance claims denied, delayed, or disputed by insurers. If you are facing a denied claim, you deserve to know your rights under Louisiana law — and you deserve experienced legal representation. Our Louisiana life insurance attorneys are ready to step in and fight to recover the benefits you were promised.

Insurance companies often rely on technical interpretations of policy language, alleged misstatements, or minor payment issues to justify denying claims. But in Louisiana, strict insurance and contract laws — including community property rules — impact how claims should be evaluated. We offer free consultations and represent beneficiaries on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover for you.

Life Insurance and Community Property Rules in Louisiana

Louisiana is a community property state, which means that assets acquired during a marriage, including life insurance interests, may be subject to community property claims. This can create additional complications in life insurance cases when the beneficiary is someone other than the surviving spouse, or when beneficiary designations are challenged after death.

If a life insurance policy was funded with community property assets, disputes may arise between surviving spouses and named beneficiaries. Understanding how Louisiana’s community property laws intersect with life insurance policies is crucial in protecting your rights and recovering the full benefits owed.

Our firm understands these complexities and can assist whether your case involves a standard claim denial or a more complex community property dispute.

Contestability Periods and Life Insurance Claims in Louisiana

Under Louisiana law, life insurance policies generally contain a two-year contestability period. During this period, insurers may challenge a claim by arguing that the insured made material misrepresentations on the application. After two years, the insurer’s ability to contest the validity of the policy becomes sharply limited unless it can prove intentional fraud.

Not every misstatement is grounds for denial. Only a material misrepresentation — one that would have changed the insurer’s decision to issue coverage or to set the premium — can justify rescission. Minor mistakes, omissions that had no effect on underwriting, or unintentional errors typically do not allow insurers to avoid paying claims.

If your claim has been denied based on contestability arguments, it’s important to have an attorney assess whether the insurer is following Louisiana law or overstepping.

Common Reasons Life Insurance Claims Are Denied in Louisiana

While insurers often provide specific reasons for denial, common patterns tend to emerge. In Louisiana, some of the frequent causes for claim denials include:

Alleged Application Misrepresentations: Insurers may claim the insured failed to disclose a health condition, prescription drug use, or hazardous activities.
Lapse for Nonpayment of Premiums: Missing a payment may trigger a lapse defense, but Louisiana requires that proper notice be given before canceling a policy.
Excluded Causes of Death: Deaths from suicide within the contestability period, illegal acts, or high-risk hobbies may be excluded under specific policy language.
Disputes Between Beneficiaries and Spouses: Given Louisiana’s community property framework, disputes often arise if the surviving spouse was not the named beneficiary.
Group Life Insurance Administrative Errors: Mistakes made by employers during enrollment can wrongfully leave beneficiaries without coverage.
Delays Due to Criminal Investigations: Insurers sometimes delay claims while waiting for criminal investigations to conclude, but they still must act reasonably.

Understanding both insurance contract law and Louisiana’s unique property rules is key to challenging these denials successfully.

What to Do After a Life Insurance Denial in Louisiana

If your life insurance claim has been denied, you should act promptly to protect your rights. Important steps include:

Requesting and retaining a copy of the full policy, the application, and any riders or amendments.
Carefully reviewing the denial letter and documenting the insurer’s stated reasons.
Preserving all written and electronic communications with the insurance company.
Avoiding further communications or submissions to the insurer without legal advice.
Contacting a Louisiana life insurance attorney quickly to review the facts and develop a strategy.

Deadlines to challenge a denial can be strict — particularly in cases involving group life insurance policies governed by ERISA or disputes implicating community property law.

How Our Louisiana Life Insurance Attorneys Can Assist You

Challenging a denied claim requires a detailed understanding of insurance law, contract principles, and Louisiana’s community property framework. Our attorneys bring this experience to every case. When you hire us, we will:

Analyze the full insurance policy and denial rationale for weaknesses and legal violations.
Investigate whether misrepresentations or exclusions were validly applied under Louisiana law.
Negotiate directly with the insurer to seek full and timely payment of benefits.
Prepare and pursue appeals where applicable.
Litigate denied claims aggressively in Louisiana state or federal courts when insurers refuse to pay.
Seek additional damages where the insurer acted in bad faith or violated unfair practices laws.

Our priority is to ensure that you receive the full benefits your loved one intended — and that insurance companies are held accountable when they break their promises.

Louisiana Denied Life Insurance Claims: Answers to Common Questions

What can I do if my life insurance claim in Louisiana was denied?

You should immediately contact a Louisiana life insurance attorney. For instance, we recently helped a Baton Rouge widow recover a denied claim where the insurer incorrectly cited a misstatement that had no link to the cause of death.

What are the most common reasons life insurance claims get denied in Louisiana?

Typical reasons include alleged misrepresentation, lapse for non-payment, suicide or alcohol exclusions, and deaths during risky activities. In a recent Lafayette case, we overturned a denial based on a disputed alcohol exclusion.

What should I do if I was named in a life insurance interpleader lawsuit in Louisiana?

Move fast. In a New Orleans case, we defended a son’s claim when the decedent’s second spouse filed a competing claim in an interpleader action.

Can a life insurance claim be denied if the insured died in an accident involving alcohol?

Yes, but the exclusion must be specific and causally connected. We defeated an alcohol-related denial in Shreveport where alcohol was present but not a factor in the fatal accident.

What happens if the policy lapsed due to missed payments before the insured’s death?

If the insurer failed to send proper lapse notices or if the death occurred during a grace period, the policy may still be valid. We reversed a lapse-based denial in Metairie by proving deficient notice procedures.

Is it true that a misrepresentation on the life insurance application voids the policy?

Only if it was material and intentional. In Lake Charles, we reversed a denial where a minor omission about cholesterol had no relation to the death.

Can Louisiana insurers deny life insurance claims based on vague policy language?

No. Louisiana law requires ambiguous terms to favor the insured. In Alexandria, we challenged a denial where the insurer misused vague policy wording to avoid paying.

What should I do if the claim was denied under the policy’s contestability period?

We aggressively challenge contestability denials. In Hammond, we forced a payout after proving the alleged misstatement wasn't material and didn’t contribute to the insured’s death.

Does Louisiana law revoke an ex-spouse’s beneficiary designation after divorce?

Yes. We defended a rightful beneficiary's claim in Monroe after an ex-husband wrongfully tried to claim benefits post-divorce.

Is Louisiana a community property state and does that affect life insurance payouts?

Yes. In a Houma case, we helped a surviving spouse recover half the proceeds even though the decedent named an adult child as sole beneficiary.

How can a life insurance lawyer help with a denied claim in Louisiana?

We gather medical evidence, interpret policy language, and escalate denials through appeals and lawsuits. Recently in Slidell, we secured a large group policy payout after a wrongful ERISA denial.

Can a will change who receives life insurance proceeds in Louisiana?

No. We defeated a claim in Baton Rouge where a will named a different heir, but the policy’s named beneficiary controlled.

What if the insured died outside the U.S. and the insurance company won’t pay?

Foreign death claims are complex. In a case involving a death in Mexico, we obtained the necessary consular documents and forced payment in Lafayette.

Are ERISA life insurance denials different in Louisiana?

Yes. Federal rules apply. We handle ERISA denials statewide, including a recent victory overturning a denial for a corporate employee in Bossier City.

Can I dispute a claim where the insurer says the death wasn’t accidental?

Absolutely. We reversed a denial in Kenner where an accidental fall was misclassified as a natural death.

What if the insured had a medical condition they didn’t disclose?

Insurers must prove intentional concealment. In Thibodaux, we fought back when an insurer cited an old back injury unrelated to the death.

What if multiple people claim to be the rightful beneficiary?

We handle these disputes. In Covington, we represented a sister in an interpleader action and secured her rightful share over a contesting neighbor.

What can be done if the beneficiary was changed just before death?

Last-minute changes can be overturned. In Gonzales, we invalidated a late change after proving the insured was incapacitated at the time of the switch.

How long does the insurance company have to pay a valid claim in Louisiana?

Insurers must pay within 30 days of receiving required documents. We sued for bad faith penalties in Denham Springs after a 90-day delay.

What happens if there was no named beneficiary on the policy?

The benefit typically goes to the estate. We helped a Metairie family claim proceeds through probate when no beneficiary was listed.

Can a minor child be a beneficiary of a life insurance policy in Louisiana?

Yes. In a Houma case, we helped a grandmother set up a court-approved trust to manage a minor's payout.

Are life insurance payouts in Louisiana protected from creditors?

Yes, when payable to a named beneficiary. We defended payouts in Gretna against attempts by creditors to seize life insurance benefits.

What happens if the policy was issued through a union or trade association?

Union policies can have different procedures. We successfully appealed a denied union policy claim for a Baton Rouge worker.

What if the insured disappeared and was never found?

Presumption of death applies. We helped a family in Plaquemine obtain a court declaration after a fisherman was lost at sea.

What’s the process for appealing a denied claim in Louisiana?

First, we file a detailed administrative appeal. If denied again, we sue. Timing is critical—we often win simply by acting faster and more strategically than the insurer expects.

What if the insurance company says a felony was involved in the death?

Felony exclusions are hard to enforce. We overturned a felony-based denial in Shreveport where no conviction occurred and the alleged act wasn't linked to the death.

Can a creditor of the beneficiary claim the life insurance money?

Generally no. We protected a New Orleans mother’s proceeds from creditors after her son’s policy named her specifically.

Can someone challenge a life insurance designation due to fraud?

Yes. In Pineville, we overturned a forged change by a caretaker made while the insured was hospitalized.

What if the policy was canceled for non-payment but the insured never got a notice?

Improper notice voids cancellation. We reinstated a lapsed policy in Abbeville after proving the insurer failed to send notices correctly.

Can a surviving spouse sue if excluded from the life insurance payout?

In Louisiana’s community property system, yes. We helped a Lafayette widow recover her half of the policy even though she wasn’t named as a beneficiary.

What should I do if the insurer claims the death occurred during a high-risk activity?

We evaluate the exclusions carefully. In Mandeville, we challenged a denial based on a boating accident and secured the full payout.

What if the agent made a mistake on the life insurance application?

The insurer can be held responsible. In Hammond, we proved agent negligence when errors led to a wrongful claim denial.

Can the insurer deny a claim after accepting premiums for years?

Only in rare cases like proven fraud. We won benefits for a Monroe client after an insurer tried to deny a claim even though they had accepted premiums for seven years.

What if the insurer is demanding too many documents before paying?

We push back on unreasonable document demands and have sued insurers for bad faith delay tactics, recovering benefits plus penalties.

Can I file a bad faith lawsuit against a Louisiana life insurance company?

Yes. In Morgan City, we filed and won a bad faith case, securing not just the policy benefit but also significant additional damages.

Can a beneficiary be disqualified if found to have caused the insured’s death?

Yes, under Louisiana’s slayer statute. We removed a disqualified heir in a Lafayette murder-suicide case.

What should I do if I was named as a secondary beneficiary and the primary has died?

You move into the primary beneficiary’s spot. We helped a Reserve, Louisiana client claim her rightful share after the original primary predeceased the insured.

2025 Louisiana Denied Life Insurance Claims: settlements & verdicts

Below are examples of Louisiana life insurance claims successfully resolved.

Farmers Life COVID-19 denial $202,000.00
SGLI beneficiary dispute won $411,000.00
American General coronavirus denied $50,000.00
VA Life felony exclusion resolved $405,200.00
Accidental Death & Dismemberment $803,000.00
Brighthouse Financial misrepresentation $20,000.00
National Life sickness exclusion resolved $75,000.00
Denied FEGLI claim that was resolved $138,000.00
AD&D claim denial due to drugs won $920,000.00
Mass shooting felony denial $300,000.00
Summit National power of attorney change $44,000.00

Primerica interpleader dispute lawsuit $306,200.00
Shooting denial of benefits $298,000.00
Continental nonpayment of premium $111,640.00
Shreveport accidental death and dismemberment $709,000.00
FEGLI appeal successful quick resolution $153,000.00
Bossier City delay due to medical issue $366,000.00
American General denial AD&D accidental death $415,000.00
Guardian self-inflicted injury exclusion $258,000.00
Standard sickness exclusion settlement $114,900.00
Denied SGLI claim quick resolution $405,300.00
Louisiana denied life insurance claim $873,000.00
SGLI competing beneficiaries action $400,000.00
OneAmerica denial of life benefits won $501,300.00
Baton Rouge dangerous activity exclusion $528,000.00
Denied FEGLI claim avoiding litigation $407,900.00
ERISA appeal life insurance benefits won $107,000.00
Monroe three exclusions overcome here $416,000.00
Denied AD&D claim felony exclusion $1,000,000.00
Lafayette ambiguous language won $791,000.00
Met life AD&D denied accidental death $512,790.00
John Hancock divorce beneficiary resolved $239,000.00
Stabbing death denial of benefits $304,600.00
FEGLI appeal success in less than a week $159,000.00
Liberty National exclusion for drug overdose $116,000.00
New Orleans material misrepresentation application $923,000.00
Union National autoerotic asphyxiation $152,000.00
Lake Charles life beneficiary dispute $1,000,000.00
Denied life insurance claim Louisiana $518,500.00
AETNA beneficiary dispute interpleader $220,350.00

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

Legal References – Louisiana

Louisiana Contestability Clause Law: Under La. R.S. § 22:931, life insurance policies in Louisiana become incontestable after being in force during the lifetime of the insured for two years from the policy's date, except for nonpayment of premiums. This clause precludes contests of the policy's validity but does not prevent defenses based on exclusions or misstatements of age.
Automatic Revocation of Ex-Spouse Beneficiaries: As of August 1, 2024, La. R.S. § 22:911.1 provides for the automatic revocation of a former spouse's beneficiary designation on a life insurance policy upon divorce, unless the policyholder reaffirms the designation after the divorce or the policy explicitly states otherwise.
Community Property Laws: Louisiana is a community property state. Life insurance policies purchased during the marriage with community funds are considered community property. Upon the death of one spouse, the surviving spouse may be entitled to half of the policy proceeds, unless the policy was purchased with separate funds or designated otherwise.
ERISA & Group Policies: Employer-provided life insurance policies governed by ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) may preempt Louisiana's community property laws. In such cases, the beneficiary designation on the policy typically determines who receives the proceeds, regardless of state community property rules.

For more information on insurance regulations and consumer protections in Louisiana, you can visit the Louisiana Department of Insurance 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.