Massachusetts Life Insurance Lawyer

Christian Lassen, Esq. | Quoted in The Wall Street Journal | 25 Years Experience

Life Insurance Lawyers Serving All 14 Massachusetts Counties

If your life insurance claim was denied in Massachusetts, 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 throughout Massachusetts recover millions in wrongfully denied death benefits. Massachusetts law recognizes life insurance as a contractual obligation that must be handled with utmost good faith, and policyholders are entitled to prompt and fair claim resolution under state regulations. Whether your case involves a policy lapse, misrepresentation allegation, or a contested beneficiary change, we have the experience to challenge the denial and pursue the full payout.

Led by nationally recognized life insurance attorney Christian Lassen, quoted by The Wall Street Journal and rated 10.0 by AVVO, our firm serves clients in every region of Massachusetts. We handle denied life insurance claims in all 14 counties and never charge a fee unless we recover for you.

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, sometimes in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts, asking the court to resolve the conflict and determine the rightful recipient of the funds.

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. 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 25 years of experience in this niche, we are recognized as top attorneys 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. Beneficiaries in Massachusetts often need legal support to dispute a denied accidental death benefit and secure the coverage their loved one paid for.

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

Under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 175, insurers must act with transparency and fairness during the contestability period, and denials based on alleged misstatements must meet specific legal thresholds.

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 each situation is fact-specific, Massachusetts law limits how and when an insurer can deny claims based on these grounds.

Allegations of Misrepresentation

The insurer claims the insured failed to disclose a pre-existing condition, medication use, or lifestyle risk when applying.

Policy Lapses

In Massachusetts, claims are often denied after a policy loapses, but many of these alleged lapses in life insurance coverage are the result of notice failures or billing system errors.

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 Challenge

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. If you're unsure of your rights, the Massachusetts Division of Insurance offers consumer protection resources, but legal representation is often essential to maximize your recovery.

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.

Denied claims under federal life insurance programs are more common than most families realize. We help Massachusetts beneficiaries challenge denied FEGLI claims involving federal employees and assist military families in disputing denied SGLI benefits following the death of a service member.

Group life insurance plans offered through private employers are typically regulated by ERISA. Our attorneys handle denied ERISA life insurance claims in Massachusetts and guide clients through the appeals process to pursue the full benefits promised under the plan. 

Contesting a Beneficiary in Massachusetts

Life insurance beneficiary disputes often arise when there are questions about a last-minute change, conflicting forms, or whether the policyholder had the capacity to make the designation.

We represent clients nationwide in cases involving:

• Undue influence or coercion
• Lack of mental capacity
• Forged or suspicious beneficiary changes
• Conflicts between spouses, children, or prior beneficiaries

Contesting a beneficiary designation requires strong evidence and a clear legal strategy. We work to challenge invalid designations and protect the rights of the rightful beneficiary.

Interpleader Attorney Massachusetts

At the Lassen Law Firm,  we represent clients across the state in life insurance interpleader lawsuits, helping beneficiaries, families, and competing claimants resolve disputes efficiently and with confidence. When an insurance company files an interpleader, often because multiple parties claim the same policy, we step in to protect your rights, challenge improper delays, and fight for the benefits you’re entitled to. Our firm handles these cases nationwide, and we bring deep experience navigating the complexities unique to each state’s laws and courts. If you need a Massachusetts interpleader attorney call us.

Denied Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Claims Massachusetts

Accidental Death and Dismemberment policies covering Massachusetts residents are often denied based on how insurers interpret causation and exclusion provisions. A carrier may assert that a medical condition contributed to the death, that the incident does not satisfy the policy’s definition of an accident, or that a specific exclusion applies under the facts presented.

In many Massachusetts AD&D disputes, the insurer relies on policy language requiring that the loss result directly from accidental causes. Medical records, toxicology reports, and investigative findings are frequently central to the denial. Whether the insurer’s position is justified depends on the exact wording of the contract and a careful review of the supporting evidence.

We represent beneficiaries in Massachusetts who are challenging denied AD&D claims and seeking payment of the benefits promised under their coverage.

Denied FEGLI Claims Massachusetts

Federal employees and retirees residing in Massachusetts are commonly insured under the Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance program. When a FEGLI claim is denied, disputes often arise over beneficiary designation forms, competing claims among family members, or questions about optional coverage elections.

FEGLI benefits are governed by federal statute and paid according to the official designation of beneficiary on file and the statutory order of precedence. Wills and state probate proceedings generally do not override the federal framework that controls these policies.

We assist Massachusetts beneficiaries facing denied FEGLI claims and guide them through the federal procedures that apply to these disputes.

Denied ERISA Claims Massachusetts

Many employer sponsored life insurance plans in Massachusetts are governed by ERISA. When an ERISA life insurance claim is denied, strict timelines and administrative requirements shape the appeal process.

Insurance companies may deny ERISA claims based on alleged misrepresentations in the application, disputes over eligibility or employment status, or claims that coverage terminated before the loss occurred. Because courts often limit their review to the administrative record, submitting a comprehensive and well supported appeal is critical.

We represent beneficiaries throughout Massachusetts whose ERISA governed life insurance claims have been denied and focus on building a strong administrative record during the required appeal stage.

Massachusetts Denied Life Insurance Claims: Answers to Common Questions

Does Massachusetts law remove an ex-spouse as beneficiary of a life insurance policy after divorce?

Yes. Under Massachusetts law (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 190B, § 2-804), a divorce generally revokes a former spouse’s beneficiary designation on a life insurance policy. The ex-spouse is treated as having predeceased the policyholder unless the designation was reaffirmed after divorce or preserved by court order. The Lassen Law Firm can help you determine how this law applies to your situation.

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 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. We helped a beneficiary secure her share when an insurer threatened an interpleader action 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 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.

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 to the Middle East.

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.

What if the insured didn’t name a beneficiary?

The benefit usually goes to the estate. 

Can a will override the life insurance beneficiary?

No. 

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.

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 represent clients in interpleader actions no matter what court.

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 material, the insurer cannot deny payment. In Marlborough, we reversed a denial tied to a minor, unrelated medical issue.

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 the insurer rescind a policy for misstatements years later?

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

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.

Can a life insurance claim be denied if the insured forgot to update the beneficiary after getting divorced?

Yes. If the former spouse remained listed as the beneficiary, that person may still receive the proceeds unless the policy was changed or a court order required a different designation.

What happens if the life insurance company says the insured never completed the enrollment process through work?

In employer sponsored plans, insurers sometimes argue that the employee did not finish the enrollment steps required for coverage. Plan records and enrollment confirmations may become important evidence.

Can a life insurance claim be delayed because the insurer is waiting for an autopsy report?

Yes. Insurers often wait for final autopsy or medical examiner reports before deciding whether the claim should be paid.

Can an accidental death claim be denied because the insurer says the death was caused by illness instead of the accident?

Yes. AD&D disputes often focus on whether the accident directly caused the death or whether a medical condition contributed.

What happens if the beneficiary form was filled out years ago and no one updated it?

If no new designation was filed, the earlier beneficiary form usually remains valid even if family circumstances later changed.

Can a life insurance claim be denied if the insured had more than one life insurance policy?

No. Having multiple policies does not normally affect coverage. Each insurer must evaluate its own policy independently.

What happens if the life insurance company cannot locate the original beneficiary form?

Disputes may arise if the insurer’s records are incomplete. Courts sometimes review other documents or evidence to determine the insured’s intent.

Can an ERISA life insurance claim be denied because the employee was not considered actively working?

Yes. Some employer plans require employees to be actively working when coverage begins or increases.

What happens if the employer deducted life insurance premiums but the insurer says the coverage was never active?

These disputes sometimes involve payroll records and employer benefit files to determine whether coverage should have been in force.

Can an ERISA life insurance denial be appealed?

Yes. ERISA plans usually require beneficiaries to submit an administrative appeal before filing a lawsuit.

What happens if a federal employee never updated their FEGLI beneficiary designation?

The official designation on file with the federal government typically controls who receives the proceeds.

Can SGLI beneficiary disputes occur when a servicemember named someone outside the family?

Yes. Servicemembers can name almost anyone as a beneficiary, which sometimes leads to disputes with family members.

What happens if a veteran dies with a VGLI policy but family members disagree about the beneficiary?

The insurer may review the official beneficiary designation and, if necessary, the dispute may be resolved through court proceedings.

Can a life insurance interpleader case involve several competing claimants?

Yes. Some interpleader cases involve multiple individuals each claiming the same policy proceeds.

What happens after the insurance company deposits life insurance proceeds with the court?

The court typically determines which claimant is legally entitled to receive the funds.

Can a life insurance dispute involve allegations that a beneficiary form was forged?

Yes. Courts sometimes review handwriting evidence or witness testimony when forgery is alleged.

Can a life insurance claim involve disagreements about whether the insured had mental capacity to change beneficiaries?

Yes. Claims of lack of mental capacity may arise if the change occurred shortly before death.

What happens if the insured tried to change beneficiaries but died before the insurer processed the form?

Courts sometimes examine whether the insured substantially completed the required steps to make the change.

Can life insurance disputes arise when a policyholder names a caregiver or friend as beneficiary instead of family members?

Yes. Family members sometimes challenge such designations, particularly if they suspect undue influence.

What happens if the insurance company refuses to decide which beneficiary should receive the proceeds?

The insurer may file an interpleader lawsuit and allow a court to resolve the dispute.

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Written & Reviewed by Christian Lassen, Esq., Nationally recognized life insurance lawyer: 25 years experience, hundreds of millions recovered.  Quoted in The Wall Street Journal ( May 17, 2025).

Last reviewed: Mar 4, 2026 | Contact 800-330-2274

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