Life Insurance Lawyer Massachusetts

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

Life insurance providers in Massachusetts don’t always act in good faith, and families are sometimes left without the support they were promised. If you're dealing with a denied life insurance policy in Massachusetts, The Lassen Law Firm is ready to challenge the insurer's decision and fight for the benefits you deserve.

In Massachusetts, disputes over life insurance beneficiaries can arise when policies are changed late in life or when multiple family members believe they have a rightful claim. If you're facing a life insurance beneficiary dispute in Massachusetts, The Lassen Law Firm can provide skilled legal representation to protect your interests.

When life insurance beneficiaries disagree in Massachusetts, insurers may file an interpleader lawsuit in Massachusetts, asking the court to resolve the conflict and determine the rightful recipient of the funds.

Trusted Life Insurance Lawyers Massachusetts: The Lassen Law Firm

Life insurance claims in Massachusetts can be overwhelming, particularly when dealing with denied benefits or bad faith insurance practices. At The Lassen Law Firm, we are dedicated to helping individuals and families across the Bay State recover the payouts they rightfully deserve. Whether you’re in Boston, Worcester, Springfield Massachusetts, Cambridge, or any other part of Massachusetts, we’re here to provide trusted legal representation.

With a nationwide reach, our experienced life insurance attorneys have recovered hundreds of millions in policies for our clients. At The Lassen Law Firm, we combine legal expertise with unwavering dedication to deliver justice for every client we serve. 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 Massachusetts? We Are Ready to Defend Your Rights

Life insurance represents a solemn promise — one designed to provide financial protection to families after a loss. When insurance companies in Massachusetts delay, undervalue, or deny valid life insurance claims, they break that promise. If you are facing a denied life insurance claim, you do not have to accept the insurer’s decision. Our Massachusetts life insurance attorneys are prepared to challenge wrongful denials and pursue the full benefits you are owed under the law.

Insurance companies often rely on complex contract language, technical missteps, or broad interpretations of policy exclusions to avoid paying claims. However, Massachusetts law imposes strict requirements on insurers, including prompt payment obligations. We offer free consultations, and you pay no fees unless we recover benefits for you.

Understanding Contestability Periods and Life Insurance Disputes in Massachusetts

Most life insurance policies in Massachusetts contain a two-year contestability period. Within this period, insurers may challenge claims if they uncover material misstatements made in the original policy application. After the two-year period ends, however, insurers generally cannot deny claims based on application errors unless they can prove fraud.

It is critical to note that not all inaccuracies qualify as material. A misstatement must have influenced the insurer’s decision to issue coverage or set premiums. Minor oversights, irrelevant omissions, or good-faith mistakes usually do not provide legal grounds for rescinding coverage.

If your claim has been denied based on contestability arguments, an attorney’s review is essential. Insurers sometimes overreach during contestability investigations in an attempt to avoid their obligations.

Common Reasons Life Insurance Claims Are Denied in Massachusetts

While every case is different, several common reasons tend to appear when life insurance claims are denied in Massachusetts:

Allegations of Misrepresentation: The insurer claims the insured failed to disclose a pre-existing condition, medication use, or lifestyle risk when applying.
Policy Lapses: Missed premium payments can cause lapses, but Massachusetts law requires insurers to provide proper notice and a grace period before terminating coverage.
Exclusions for Cause of Death: Deaths linked to suicide (within exclusion periods), participation in dangerous activities, or criminal conduct may be excluded based on policy language.
Beneficiary Disputes: Controversies over beneficiary designations, family conflicts, or alleged undue influence often delay or derail payments.
Employer Mistakes in Group Life Insurance: Errors made during enrollment or coverage administration can unfairly strip families of group life insurance benefits.
Delays Associated with Death Investigations: Insurers may delay claims if the insured’s death is under investigation, but they must still adhere to Massachusetts’s prompt payment requirements.

Regardless of the insurer’s stated reason, you have rights. Many life insurance denials in Massachusetts can be successfully challenged with experienced legal advocacy.

Steps to Take After a Life Insurance Denial in Massachusetts

After receiving a denial letter, swift action is critical to protecting your rights. You should:

Request a full copy of the insurance policy, application, and all amendments.
Review the insurer’s denial letter and document the reasons cited.
Preserve all communications with the insurance company, including emails, letters, and call notes.
Avoid submitting additional documentation without first consulting a lawyer.
Contact a Massachusetts life insurance attorney promptly to evaluate your options and safeguard your claim.

Strict deadlines may apply, particularly if the life insurance policy was offered through an employer and governed by ERISA.

How Our Massachusetts Life Insurance Attorneys Handle Denied Claims

When you work with our firm, you gain a team focused solely on advocating for beneficiaries. We take a strategic, client-centered approach to every case. Our attorneys will:

Conduct a full review of the insurance policy and the denial.
Investigate whether the insurer violated Massachusetts insurance law or engaged in unfair practices.
Challenge improper contestability rescissions and technical defenses.
Handle all communications with the insurer, allowing you to focus on healing.
File administrative appeals where required and litigate cases when necessary.
Pursue damages for bad faith conduct if the insurer acted unlawfully under Massachusetts law.

Our goal is simple: to enforce the promises made to you and your loved ones and ensure full, fair payment of life insurance benefits.

Massachusetts Denied Life Insurance Claims: Answers to Common Questions

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

You should immediately contact an experienced Massachusetts life insurance attorney. For example, we recently reversed a denial in Boston where the insurer wrongly applied a technical exclusion.

What happens if I’m served with a life insurance interpleader lawsuit in Massachusetts?

You must defend your rights in court. In Worcester, we helped a beneficiary secure her share when an insurer filed an interpleader between two competing family members.

What if there's a dispute over the life insurance beneficiary in Massachusetts?

We handle beneficiary disputes throughout the state. In Lowell, we successfully invalidated a suspicious last-minute change made under undue influence.

Why are AD&D life insurance claims denied in Massachusetts?

Insurers often reclassify deaths to natural causes. We overturned an AD&D denial in Springfield where the insured's accidental fall was wrongly attributed to a medical condition.

Can a lapsed policy lead to a denied life insurance claim in Massachusetts?

Yes, but lapses are often disputed. In Quincy, we proved an insurer failed to send proper lapse notices, resulting in reinstatement of full benefits.

Does misrepresentation justify claim denial in Massachusetts?

Only if it was both material and intentional. We defeated a denial in Framingham where the alleged misstatement had no connection to the insured’s cause of death.

Can insurers deny claims based on alcohol exclusions in Massachusetts?

They can try, but only with clear proof. In Cambridge, we fought back when an insurer cited alcohol use without establishing it caused the fatal accident.

What should I do after a bad faith ERISA denial of life insurance benefits in Massachusetts?

You get one administrative appeal. We successfully appealed a group policy denial in Plymouth by presenting compelling new medical records.

What does a denial during the contestability period mean in Massachusetts?

It means the insurer is investigating early policy information. In New Bedford, we reversed a contestability denial by proving there was no material misstatement.

What if the claim denial cites Massachusetts law?

Insurers often cite laws selectively. We challenged a denial in Peabody where the insurer misapplied state statutes, leading to full payout.

What Massachusetts insurers deny the most life insurance claims?

Fisher Insurance (Milford), American Income Life (Foxboro), and Colonial Life (Marlborough) are frequently reported for tough claim reviews.

Does Massachusetts revoke ex-spouse beneficiaries after divorce?

Yes. We enforced this law in a case out of Brookline, protecting a decedent’s children from a wrongful claim by an ex-spouse.

Is Massachusetts a community property state?

No. But we help surviving spouses in places like Gloucester recover benefits when divorce decrees or spousal rights come into play.

Can a Massachusetts court override a life insurance beneficiary designation?

Yes, in cases involving fraud or undue influence. We overturned a wrongful change in Fitchburg where an elderly insured was manipulated.

What if the insured died abroad and the insurer denies the claim?

We pursue foreign death claims. In a Lynn case, we secured payment after a wrongful denial involving a death during international travel.

Can I dispute a last-minute beneficiary change?

Absolutely. In Brockton, we challenged a suspicious change made days before the insured passed away and restored the original designation.

Is it legal for an insurer to delay payment for months in Massachusetts?

No. We forced an insurer to pay with interest after a six-month delay in Salem that violated Massachusetts fair claims laws.

What if the insured didn’t name a beneficiary?

The benefit usually goes to the estate. We help families in Leominster handle probate and recover proceeds when no beneficiary is listed.

Can a will override the life insurance beneficiary?

No. We defended a beneficiary in Newton when an extended family member tried to argue the will should control the payout.

What if the insurer claims the death wasn’t accidental?

We collaborate with medical experts. In Somerville, we proved that a workplace fall was accidental, reversing a denied AD&D claim.

Can someone be disqualified from receiving the life insurance benefit in Massachusetts?

Yes. Under Massachusetts law, a slayer cannot collect. We successfully redirected proceeds in a Fall River case involving criminal wrongdoing.

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

The insurer may still be liable. In Waltham, we fought for a family after the agent incorrectly completed the insured’s health information.

What happens when multiple people claim the benefit?

Insurers often file an interpleader. We represented a rightful heir in Beverly and successfully secured their portion of the death benefit.

What if the insured disappeared and was declared legally dead?

Massachusetts courts allow presumptions of death. We obtained a court order in Barnstable to process a missing persons life insurance claim.

Can I reopen a denied life insurance claim in Massachusetts?

Often yes. We reopened a two-year-old claim denial in Lawrence after discovering errors in the insurer’s denial reasoning.

What if the insured failed to disclose a health condition?

If it wasn’t intentional or material, the insurer cannot deny payment. In Marlborough, we reversed a denial tied to a minor, unrelated medical issue.

Do minors need a guardian to receive life insurance benefits?

Yes. We help families in Attleboro set up guardianships to protect minor beneficiaries' funds.

Can I appeal a claim denied due to suicide in Massachusetts?

Yes. Suicide exclusions typically expire after two years. In Medford, we challenged and overturned a wrongful suicide-based denial.

How long does the insurer have to pay in Massachusetts?

Claims must be paid promptly once documentation is complete. In Revere, we secured penalties after an insurer’s unjustified payment delay.

What if the claim was denied for incomplete paperwork?

We correct administrative errors. In Braintree, we resubmitted corrected documentation and forced payment for our client.

Can a business or creditor collect life insurance benefits?

Only if properly named. We defended a family in Dedham against an improper creditor claim on a life insurance payout.

Are union-provided life insurance plans handled differently?

Yes. Union policies sometimes have distinct appeals. We assist union members in places like Quincy with claim denials.

Can the insurer rescind a policy for misstatements years later?

No, not after the two-year contestability period. We stopped a rescission attempt in Shrewsbury beyond the contestability timeframe.

Do life insurance proceeds go through probate in Massachusetts?

Not usually. In Taunton, we helped a family avoid probate by proving a valid beneficiary designation even after initial confusion.

Can a court split a life insurance benefit among relatives?

Yes. In cases without a clear beneficiary, Massachusetts courts may divide the proceeds fairly among family members.

Are life insurance benefits in Massachusetts taxable?

The death benefit itself is usually not taxable, but interest accrued from delayed payments may be taxed. We advise clients accordingly.

What should I do if the insurer demands excessive documentation?

We intervene to prevent stalling tactics. In Melrose, we forced an insurer to stop repeated demands and process the payment.

Can a denial due to criminal activity be contested?

Yes. We challenged a denial in Amherst where the insured’s death was only loosely connected to a minor criminal charge, leading to full payment.

2025 Massachusetts Denied Life Insurance Claims: settlements & verdicts

Below are examples of Massachusetts life insurance claims successfully resolved.

USAA COVID-19 denial case resolved $109,800.00
Mass Shooting denied life insurance claim $303,000.00
Country Financial Life coronavirus $50,000.00
AD&D claim due to heart attack $102,000.00
Chubb interpleader lawsuit won spouse vs ex-spouse $230,000.00
Massachusetts interpleader lawsuit $750,000.00
Great-West competing beneficiaries $57,000.00
Kemper Life prescription drugs in system $74,000.00
iA Financial felony exclusion crime $33,000.00
Massachusetts denied life insurance claim $1,350,000.00
Boston Mutual lapse in payment $204,000.00

American Income interpleader dispute beneficiaries $759,300.00
First Capital Life COVID-19 exclusion that we just won $339,000.00
Boston Mutual material misrepresentation medical $211,550.00
Denial of claim due to coronavirus not known illness $280,000.00
Denial of SGLI claim due to dispute ex-wife $408,540.00
Anthem prescription drug opioid denial case $147,000.00
Massachusetts denied life insurance claim $2,500,000.00
Globe Divorce dispute ex-spouse and spouse $114,000.00
Denial of FEGLI claim three exclusions resolved $274,000.00
Mass Mutual while in nursing home lapse $302,000.00
Prudential denial felony exclusion won $519,000.00
AIG accidental death & dismemberment $535,400.00
Denied AD&D claim exclusion avoiding court $820,000.00
Mutual Security denial of life benefits to client $530,000.00
Lincoln National alcohol level denial $112,150.00
SGLI change of beneficiary dispute $400,000.00
Kentucky Central Life felony exclusion won $507,300.00
Guarantee Security competing beneficiaries $298,320.00
Denied life insurance claim Massachusetts $1,038,999.00
Villanova Life denied claim due to exclusions $389,400.00
Massachusetts divorce and life insurance $635,000.00
Colonial autoerotic asphyxiation claim $106,500.00
Fidelity Security missed one payment $202,000.00
American General beneficiary dispute $507,900.00

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

Legal References – Massachusetts

Massachusetts Contestability Clause Law: Under M.G.L. c. 175, § 132(2), life insurance policies in Massachusetts become incontestable after being in force for two years, except for nonpayment of premiums. During this contestability period, insurers may deny claims based on material misrepresentations made in the application.
Automatic Revocation of Ex-Spouse Beneficiaries: According to M.G.L. c. 190B, § 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.
Equitable Distribution Laws: Massachusetts is an equitable distribution state, not a community property state. This means that life insurance proceeds are distributed according to the policy's beneficiary designation, and a surviving spouse is not automatically entitled to the death benefit unless named as a beneficiary or granted rights through a court order or marital agreement.
ERISA & Group Policies: Employer-provided life insurance policies governed by ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) may preempt Massachusetts state laws in cases involving contested beneficiaries, including disputes with former spouses.

You can 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.