Life Insurance Lawyer Michigan

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


It can be devastating for Michigan families when a life insurance company refuses to pay after a loved one’s passing. If you're facing a life insurance claim denial in Michigan, The Lassen Law Firm is here to help you take legal action and recover the full benefits outlined in the policy.

In Michigan, life insurance beneficiary disputes frequently involve ex-spouses, disputed policy updates, or competing claims from family members. If you're involved in a life insurance beneficiary dispute in Michigan, The Lassen Law Firm is ready to help you assert your rights and pursue the benefits you're entitled to.

In Michigan, life insurance companies often use an interpleader action in Michigan to avoid liability when they receive multiple claims for the same policy, leaving the decision to the court.

Trusted Life Insurance Lawyers Michigan: The Lassen Law Firm

Dealing with life insurance claims in Michigan can be challenging, especially when faced with denied benefits or bad faith insurance practices. At The Lassen Law Firm, we proudly assist individuals and families across the Great Lakes State in recovering the payouts they deserve. Whether you’re in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren MI, Ann Arbor, Lansing, or any other community in Michigan, we bring trusted legal expertise and personalized support to every case.

With a nationwide presence, our experienced life insurance attorneys have recovered hundreds of millions in policies for our clients. The Lassen Law Firm combines dedication, legal expertise, and relentless advocacy to ensure 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 Michigan? Our Attorneys Will Fight for Your Benefits

Life insurance should provide peace of mind, not hardship. Yet in Michigan, too many families find themselves battling insurance companies after a loved one’s death. If your life insurance claim has been denied or delayed, you have legal rights — and you do not have to face the insurer alone. Our Michigan life insurance attorneys are ready to step in, challenge wrongful denials, and demand the full benefits you are entitled to.

Insurance companies often deny claims based on technicalities, minor application errors, or misinterpretations of policy exclusions. However, Michigan law imposes strict obligations on insurers, including fair dealing, timely payment, and accountability for bad faith conduct. We offer free consultations and only get paid if we successfully recover benefits for you.

Contestability Periods and Life Insurance Claims in Michigan

Most life insurance policies issued in Michigan contain a two-year contestability period. During this window, insurers may rescind coverage if they discover material misrepresentations in the policy application. After two years, their ability to challenge the policy’s validity diminishes significantly unless they can prove deliberate fraud.

Importantly, not every misstatement justifies a denial. Under Michigan law, only material misrepresentations — statements that would have influenced the insurer’s decision to issue or price the policy — allow for rescission. Innocent errors, misunderstandings, or immaterial omissions typically do not permit denial after death.

If your claim is denied during or after the contestability period, it is critical to have a knowledgeable attorney assess whether the insurer’s actions comply with Michigan law.

Common Reasons Life Insurance Claims Are Denied in Michigan

While each situation is unique, insurance companies often rely on similar tactics when denying life insurance claims in Michigan:

  • Application Misstatements: Insurers claim the insured failed to disclose important health information, dangerous hobbies, or lifestyle risks like smoking.

  • Nonpayment and Lapse Defenses: Missed premium payments may be cited as grounds for lapse, but Michigan law requires strict compliance with notice and grace period rules before coverage can be terminated.

  • Policy Exclusions: Deaths related to suicide within exclusion periods, criminal acts, or dangerous activities may be excluded depending on policy terms.

  • Beneficiary Disputes: Disagreements over outdated beneficiary designations, questions of capacity, or allegations of undue influence can delay or complicate claims.

  • Employer Errors with Group Life Policies: Administrative mistakes during group enrollment or coverage maintenance often result in unfair denials.

  • Delays During Death Investigations: If a death is under investigation, insurers sometimes delay payment, but Michigan law prohibits unreasonable claim delays.

Whatever the insurer’s reason, many denials can be challenged through negotiation, appeal, or litigation.

Steps to Take Immediately After a Life Insurance Denial in Michigan

Taking the right steps immediately after a denial can protect your rights and strengthen your claim. You should:

  • Request the full insurance policy, application, and all related documentation.

  • Review and document the denial letter carefully, noting the reasons cited.

  • Save copies of all correspondence with the insurance company.

  • Avoid providing additional statements or records without consulting an attorney.

  • Contact a Michigan life insurance lawyer promptly to evaluate your case and begin pursuing your benefits.

Timely action is especially important for policies governed by ERISA (employer-sponsored plans) or when insurers engage in unreasonable delay tactics.

How Our Michigan Life Insurance Attorneys Handle Wrongful Denials

We focus exclusively on representing beneficiaries in life insurance disputes. When you work with us, you gain a team committed to securing the benefits you deserve. We will:

  • Conduct a detailed policy and denial review to identify legal and factual weaknesses in the insurer’s position.

  • Challenge improper contestability rescissions, lapse defenses, or exclusion arguments.

  • Handle all negotiations and communications with the insurance company.

  • File administrative appeals where necessary for group life insurance claims.

  • Pursue litigation when insurers refuse to pay rightful benefits.

  • Seek additional damages under Michigan’s bad faith insurance laws if the insurer acted unfairly.

Our mission is simple: recover the full policy benefits for you as quickly as possible and hold insurers accountable when they violate your rights.

Michigan Denied Life Insurance Claims: Answers to Common Questions

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

You should immediately contact an experienced Michigan life insurance attorney. Recently, we overturned a denial in Grand Rapids where the insurer wrongfully relied on an outdated exclusion.

How should I respond to a life insurance interpleader lawsuit in Michigan?

You must defend your rights or risk forfeiting the benefit. In Lansing, we successfully represented a client in a complex interpleader involving competing claims by a spouse and adult children.

What are my options in a life insurance beneficiary dispute in Michigan?

We resolve disputes across Michigan, from Ann Arbor to Kalamazoo, where family conflicts, divorce decrees, or suspicious beneficiary changes create legal challenges.

Why are accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) claims often denied in Michigan?

Insurers often misclassify accidents. In a Detroit case, we proved that a fatal fall was accidental, despite the insurer claiming it was due to an underlying medical condition.

Can policy lapse be used as a reason to deny a life insurance claim in Michigan?

Yes, but lapses can be contested. In a case from Traverse City, we showed that the insurer failed to issue required pre-lapse notices, resulting in payment of the claim.

Is a misrepresentation on the life insurance application a valid reason to deny a Michigan claim?

Only if it was material and made with intent. We reversed a denial in Sterling Heights where the alleged misstatement was trivial and unrelated to the insured’s cause of death.

Can a Michigan life insurance claim be denied due to alcohol use?

Possibly, but exclusions must be applied carefully. In Warren, we challenged a denial where alcohol was present but not the cause of the fatal incident.

What should I do about a denied ERISA life insurance claim in Michigan?

Act fast. In Livonia, we won an ERISA appeal by building a complete medical record and exposing flaws in the insurer’s decision-making process.

What does the contestability period mean in a Michigan life insurance policy?

It allows insurers to investigate misstatements within the first two years. We defeated a contestability denial in Saginaw where the alleged issue had no effect on the death.

What should I do if my denial letter cites Michigan state law?

Insurers often misinterpret state law. In Dearborn, we uncovered misapplied statutory language that invalidated the insurer’s denial.

Which life insurance companies in Michigan frequently deny claims?

Jackson National Life (Lansing), Northwestern Mutual, and Auto-Owners Life (Lansing) are commonly named in Michigan denial disputes.

Does Michigan revoke ex-spouse beneficiary designations after divorce?

Yes. In Flint, we protected children’s rights after an insurer improperly tried to pay an ex-spouse who hadn't been reaffirmed post-divorce.

Is Michigan a community property state, and how does that affect claims?

No. But surviving spouses in Port Huron and other cities may still have equitable claims based on marital property contributions to premiums.

Can a will override the named beneficiary on a Michigan life insurance policy?

No. We defended a named beneficiary in Holland when distant relatives tried to rely on the will to claim the payout.

How much does it cost to hire a Michigan life insurance lawyer?

We handle cases on a contingency basis—you owe nothing unless we win, whether you’re in Midland, Novi, or anywhere else across Michigan.

Can a Michigan life insurance claim be denied if the death occurred overseas?

It can happen. In a case from Rochester Hills, we successfully challenged a foreign death exclusion when the insurer failed to prove it applied.

What if a beneficiary change was made shortly before death in Michigan?

Late changes are often contested. We reversed a disputed change in Ypsilanti involving allegations of elder abuse.

What should I do if my Michigan life insurance claim is delayed?

In Battle Creek, we secured penalties after an insurer delayed payment for six months without justification.

Can a Michigan insurer deny an AD&D claim by calling the death natural?

Yes, but we contest these denials fiercely. In Monroe, we proved a motor vehicle accident, not a heart condition, caused the insured’s death.

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

The insurer may still be liable. We corrected an agent's error in a case out of Bay City and forced the carrier to honor the policy.

What is bad faith in a Michigan life insurance claim?

Bad faith includes unfair delays, unjustified denials, and misrepresentations. We pursue extra damages when insurers act improperly in Michigan.

Can denials during the contestability period be reversed in Michigan?

Yes. We recently overturned a denial in Mount Pleasant based on an immaterial health issue the insured had forgotten to mention.

Are ERISA-governed life insurance policies harder to appeal in Michigan?

Yes, but we’re skilled at navigating the ERISA process, from administrative appeals to federal court filings in Detroit and Grand Rapids.

What if the Michigan life insurance policy doesn’t list a beneficiary?

The proceeds typically flow into the estate. We assist families statewide in recovering benefits through Michigan probate courts.

Can I dispute a questionable beneficiary designation in Michigan?

Yes. In a case out of East Lansing, we invalidated a suspicious change made after the insured suffered cognitive decline.

Does Michigan law require insurers to send notice before canceling a life insurance policy?

Yes. If they fail, as we proved in a Southfield case, the cancellation may be invalid and the benefit recoverable.

What if my employer in Michigan failed to enroll me in group life insurance?

Employer negligence can lead to denied benefits. We hold employers accountable in places like Troy and Farmington Hills when coverage errors occur.

Can multiple people claim the same Michigan life insurance policy?

Yes, and the insurer may deposit the funds with the court. We litigate interpleader actions from Macomb County to Washtenaw County.

Can I file a claim if the insured was declared legally dead in Michigan?

Yes. In Alpena, we assisted a family with a presumed death proceeding, allowing them to collect full benefits after years of uncertainty.

What is the deadline to appeal a denied life insurance claim in Michigan?

ERISA appeals are typically due within 180 days. Private policy deadlines vary. We track these deadlines carefully to protect your rights.

Are verbal agreements enforceable in Michigan life insurance claims?

No. Only written designations control. But in cases of fraud, coercion, or forgery, as we showed in a St. Clair Shores case, courts may intervene.

Are life insurance benefits shielded from creditors in Michigan?

Generally yes, if a beneficiary is named. If the estate is the recipient, creditors could have claims. We protect beneficiaries from improper collections.

Can vague or confusing policy language be used to deny a claim in Michigan?

No. Michigan courts interpret ambiguous terms in favor of the insured. We exploit this rule to win coverage disputes statewide.

Can a canceled life insurance policy still result in payment in Michigan?

Yes, if the cancellation violated notice requirements. We reinstated coverage in Jackson after exposing improper lapse procedures.

What if a Michigan life insurance policy lapsed for non-payment?

We investigate lapse cases thoroughly. In Petoskey, we recovered benefits when the insurer failed to properly credit an automatic bank draft.

Can a minor receive life insurance proceeds in Michigan?

Yes, but a court-appointed conservator or guardian may be needed. We guide families in setting up these protections from Detroit to Traverse City.

Can fraud be used to deny a Michigan life insurance claim?

Only with strong evidence. We successfully defeated a fraud claim denial in Marquette when the insurer’s investigation was sloppy and inconclusive.

Can a Michigan life insurance case be resolved without court?

Yes. In many cases, we negotiate settlements across Michigan, avoiding lengthy litigation while maximizing recovery.

What if a Michigan beneficiary change wasn’t properly recorded?

If the insurer failed to properly record a change, the original beneficiary may prevail. We litigated such an issue successfully in Flint.

Is an older life insurance policy still valid in Michigan?

Yes. We enforced a 1970s policy in a case from Muskegon when the insured passed away decades later.

How do I prove I’m the correct beneficiary of a Michigan life insurance policy?

We gather all relevant policy records, emails, change forms, and estate documents to build an airtight case for rightful beneficiaries across Michigan.

2025 Michigan Denied Life Insurance Claims: settlements & verdicts

Below are examples of Michigan life insurance claims successfully resolved.


  • Globe Life coronavirus exclusion $102,200.00
  • Mass shooting death denied life claim $115,000.00
  • Progressive life COVID-19 denial $204,000.00
  • SGLI claim beneficiary dispute $408,750.00
  • AD&D claim denied prescriptions $560,000.00
  • Unum felony exclusion shooting $105,000.00
  • GPM Life sickness exclusion paid $40,000.00
  • CUNA Mutual Life delay benefits $25,000.00
  • Occidental Life alcohol exclusion $68,000.00
  • Shooting death felony exclusion won $122,000.00
  • AFBA life very long delay paid finally $50,000.00
  • TruStage material misrepresentation $90,000.00
  • Confederation Life intoxication exclusion $118,000.00
  • Mid Continental chronic illness exclusion $43,000.00
  • Mass Mutual interpleader lawsuit settled $314,000.00
  • Coronavirus denial because not known $021,500.00
  • Allstate alcohol exclusion issue resolved $103,820.00
  • Denial of SGLI claim due to beneficiaries $404,200.00
  • Prudential material misrepresentation health $536,000.00
  • Colonial autoerotic asphyxiation death claim $318,000.00
  • Michigan denied life insurance claim $1,523,000.00
  • COVID-19 reason for denying life insurance $259,400.00
  • Denial FEGLI claim due to exclusions $431,000.00
  • American General spouse against sister $758,400.00
  • AIG issue regarding policy lapse $101,900.00
  • Lincoln Heritage three policy exclusions $227,000.00
  • Veterans Life denial of benefits wife won $529,900.00
  • MetLife accidental death & dismemberment $406,300.00
  • AD&D claim denied due to exclusions we won $833,900.00
  • American Amicable exclusion for suicide $118,000.00
  • Prudential dementia not disclosed on application $251,000.00
  • Sed Mutual Life denial of life benefits we resolved $480,000.00
  • Denied life insurance claim Michigan $914,500.00
  • Michigan life insurance and divorce case $379,000.00
  • Monarch Life denial of claim we won for client $775,000.00
  • General prescription drug interaction $208,000.00
  • Western Reserve sickness exclusion $105,100.00

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

Legal References – Michigan

  • Michigan Contestability Clause Law: Under MCL § 500.4030, life insurance policies in Michigan become incontestable after being in force for two years from the date of issue, 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 MCL § 700.2807, 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: Michigan 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 Michigan's state laws in cases involving contested beneficiaries, including disputes with former spouses.

For more information on insurance regulations and consumer protections in Michigan, you can visit the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) 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.