Life Insurance Lawyer Minnesota

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

In Minnesota, families are often left frustrated and overwhelmed when insurers deny life insurance claims without proper justification. If you're dealing with a denied life insurance benefit in Minnesota, The Lassen Law Firm is prepared to challenge the denial and pursue the compensation you’re entitled to.

Beneficiary disputes in Minnesota can become legally complex when multiple people are named across different documents or when changes are made without proper notice. If you're facing a life insurance beneficiary dispute in Minnesota, The Lassen Law Firm can help you resolve the issue and fight for the proceeds that are rightfully yours.

When there’s a disagreement over who should receive life insurance benefits in Minnesota, insurers may file an interpleader lawsuit in Minnesota to have the court decide the rightful beneficiary.

Experienced Life Insurance Lawyers Minnesota: The Lassen Law Firm

Navigating life insurance claims in Minnesota can be complex, particularly when dealing with denied benefits or bad faith insurance practices. At The Lassen Law Firm, we are committed to supporting individuals and families across the North Star State in securing the payouts they deserve. From Minneapolis to St. Paul, Duluth to Rochester MN, and every other part of Minnesota, we provide experienced legal representation to fight for your rights.

As life insurance attorneys handling cases nationwide, we have recovered hundreds of millions in policies for our clients. The Lassen Law Firm combines personalized attention, legal expertise, and unwavering dedication to deliver justice for those 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.

Was Your Life Insurance Claim Denied in Minnesota? We’re Ready to Help

Life insurance should bring financial security in a time of grief — not create additional hardship. Yet in Minnesota, many families face unexpected denials or delays when they try to collect life insurance benefits. If your life insurance claim has been denied, you have rights under Minnesota law. Our Minnesota life insurance attorneys are here to advocate for you and work to recover the full benefits your family deserves.

Insurance companies may deny claims by citing technical application errors, policy exclusions, or alleged lapses. However, Minnesota has some of the strongest consumer protections in the country, and insurers are legally required to act fairly and process claims promptly. We offer free consultations and charge no fees unless we successfully recover benefits on your behalf.

Life Insurance Contestability Periods and Disputes in Minnesota

Most life insurance policies issued in Minnesota include a two-year contestability period. During this timeframe, insurers can investigate claims and potentially rescind coverage if they discover material misstatements made on the application. After two years, the insurer’s ability to contest the policy is sharply limited unless fraud can be proven.

A material misrepresentation means a statement that would have influenced the insurer’s decision to issue or price the policy. Honest mistakes, immaterial omissions, or misunderstandings are not valid reasons for denial under Minnesota law.

If your claim has been denied during or after the contestability period, it’s critical to have an experienced attorney review the facts and determine whether the insurer acted properly.

Common Reasons Life Insurance Claims Are Denied in Minnesota

Insurance companies often use similar reasons when denying life insurance claims. In Minnesota, common denial grounds include:

Application Misstatements: Insurers claim the insured failed to disclose important health information, prior treatments, or risky behaviors like extreme sports participation.
Policy Lapses for Nonpayment: Missed premiums may be cited, but Minnesota law requires insurers to provide appropriate notice and grace periods before canceling coverage.
Exclusions for Cause of Death: Deaths involving suicide during exclusion periods, dangerous activities, or illegal conduct may be excluded depending on the policy’s terms.
Beneficiary Disputes: Conflicts between family members or disputes over last-minute beneficiary changes can complicate and delay claims.
Employer Errors in Group Life Policies: Administrative mistakes during enrollment or miscommunications about eligibility can lead to wrongful denials.
Delays Tied to Investigations: If the insured’s death is under investigation, insurers may delay payment — but under Minnesota law, insurers must still act reasonably and in good faith.

Whatever reason the insurer provides, many denials can be successfully challenged with skilled legal representation.

What You Should Do After Receiving a Life Insurance Denial in Minnesota

If you receive a denial letter, taking prompt, careful action is essential. You should:

Request a complete copy of the life insurance policy, including the original application and any amendments.
Review the denial letter thoroughly and note the reasons cited for nonpayment.
Save copies of all communications and correspondence with the insurer.
Avoid submitting further information or statements until consulting a life insurance attorney.
Contact a Minnesota life insurance lawyer immediately to protect your rights and start building a strong case.

Minnesota law also requires timely payment of claims, and penalties may apply if insurers engage in unreasonable delays.

How Our Minnesota Life Insurance Attorneys Pursue Wrongfully Denied Claims

Our firm focuses on helping beneficiaries fight back when insurers wrongfully deny, delay, or underpay claims. When you work with us, we will:

Examine the full policy and denial rationale for legal errors and policy misinterpretations.
Challenge improper rescissions based on contestability period investigations.
Handle all communications and negotiations with the insurance company.
Prepare appeals for group life insurance claims when necessary.
File lawsuits against insurers who refuse to pay benefits without valid grounds.
Seek additional damages under Minnesota law if the insurer’s conduct qualifies as bad faith.

Our mission is clear: to recover the full life insurance proceeds your loved one intended you to receive — and to hold insurers accountable for wrongful behavior.

Minnesota Denied Life Insurance Claims: Answers to Common Questions

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

You should immediately consult a top Minnesota life insurance attorney. In a recent case from Duluth, we successfully reversed a denial based on an alleged application misstatement.

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

You must defend your claim in court. We recently helped a client in Hennepin County recover proceeds after a contested interpleader between a surviving spouse and adult children.

What can I do if I'm in a life insurance beneficiary dispute in Minnesota?

Beneficiary disputes often involve late changes or family conflict. In Rochester, we successfully defended a daughter’s right to proceeds after an ex-spouse attempted to intervene.

Why would an accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) claim be denied in Minnesota?

Insurers often argue the death resulted from a medical event. In St. Cloud, we proved the death was an accident despite the insurer’s attempt to reclassify it.

Can a policy lapse justify denial of a life insurance claim in Minnesota?

Only if strict lapse notice laws were followed. We reinstated a lapsed policy in Eden Prairie after exposing the insurer’s failure to send a required notice.

Is a misstatement on the application grounds for denial in Minnesota?

Only if it was intentional and material. We successfully overturned a denial in Bloomington where the insurer relied on an innocent oversight.

Can a Minnesota life insurance claim be denied due to an alcohol exclusion?

Yes, but exclusions must be clear and causally related. In Maple Grove, we overturned an alcohol-based denial where the true cause of death was unrelated.

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

File a strong administrative appeal immediately. In a case from Minneapolis, we won an ERISA appeal by fully documenting the insurer’s failure to investigate properly.

What is the contestability period for life insurance policies in Minnesota?

It’s typically two years. We defeated a contestability denial in Moorhead by showing the alleged misstatement had no bearing on the cause of death.

What if I receive a life insurance denial letter citing Minnesota law?

Insurers often misinterpret statutes. In a Mankato case, we showed that the cited law didn’t support the insurer’s refusal to pay.

Which life insurance companies in Minnesota are frequently reported for claim denials?

Minnesota Life (Securian), Allianz Life, and Thrivent are frequently named. We routinely handle disputes with all major Minnesota carriers.

Does Minnesota law automatically revoke an ex-spouse as a beneficiary after divorce?

Yes, unless reaffirmed after divorce. We successfully blocked an ex-husband from collecting proceeds in a St. Paul case.

Is Minnesota a community property state, and how does that affect life insurance claims?

No, but spouses may still assert equitable claims, especially if community-like funds were used to pay premiums.

Can a will override the beneficiary on a Minnesota life insurance policy?

No. In Burnsville, we upheld a named beneficiary’s rights when distant relatives cited a conflicting will.

How much does a Minnesota life insurance lawyer charge?

We work on a contingency fee—you pay nothing unless we recover money for you.

Can a Minnesota life insurance claim be denied for a death outside the U.S.?

It can, but exclusions must be specific. We overturned a denial involving a death in Canada by showing no exclusion applied.

What happens if the beneficiary was changed shortly before the insured’s death in Minnesota?

These changes are often challenged. We proved undue influence in a Brooklyn Park case involving a last-minute beneficiary switch.

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

Unjustified delays may be bad faith. In a Lakeville case, we secured additional damages after the insurer delayed payment for nine months without cause.

Can a Minnesota insurer deny an accidental death claim by calling it a natural death?

They try—but in a Bloomington case, we used autopsy evidence to confirm the death was an accident under the policy.

What if an agent made an error on the life insurance application in Minnesota?

The insurer may still be liable. We held a company responsible after an agent in Eagan improperly completed health disclosures.

What qualifies as bad faith in a Minnesota life insurance denial?

Bad faith includes unreasonable delay, lack of investigation, or misapplying the policy. We pursue extra damages when insurers act improperly.

Can a denial during the contestability period be overturned in Minnesota?

Yes. In Brainerd, we reversed a contestability denial by proving the alleged misrepresentation was harmless.

Are ERISA life insurance policies harder to fight in Minnesota?

Yes, but with an experienced ERISA attorney, success is achievable. We regularly litigate ERISA disputes in Minnesota federal courts.

What happens if no beneficiary was listed on the Minnesota life insurance policy?

Proceeds usually go to the estate. We help families in Minnesota probate courts recover benefits when no beneficiary is named.

Can a suspicious beneficiary designation be disputed in Minnesota?

Yes. In Eagan, we invalidated a suspicious beneficiary change executed during the insured’s final hospitalization.

Do Minnesota insurers have to provide written notice before canceling a policy?

Yes. Failure to provide proper notice, as we proved in a Plymouth case, can void a policy cancellation.

What happens if a Minnesota group life insurance policy wasn’t properly set up?

Employer enrollment errors are common. We helped an employee’s family in Apple Valley recover benefits after HR failed to submit required paperwork.

Can multiple people claim a life insurance policy in Minnesota?

Yes. In interpleader actions, we protect rightful beneficiaries. We recently resolved a three-party dispute in Hennepin County favorably for our client.

Can a claim be paid in Minnesota if the insured was declared legally dead?

Yes. We guided a family in Duluth through the presumed death process and secured full life insurance proceeds.

How long do I have to appeal a denied life insurance claim in Minnesota?

ERISA claims allow 180 days. Private policies vary. We ensure appeals in Minnesota are filed before deadlines expire.

Can verbal agreements change the beneficiary of a Minnesota life insurance policy?

No. Only written designations count unless fraud, forgery, or undue influence is proven.

Are life insurance proceeds protected from creditors in Minnesota?

Yes, generally, if a named beneficiary exists. If paid to an estate, proceeds may be vulnerable to creditor claims.

Can unclear life insurance policy language be used to deny a claim in Minnesota?

No. Minnesota law requires ambiguities to be construed against the insurer, a tactic we use to overturn wrongful denials.

Can a canceled life insurance policy still pay out in Minnesota?

Yes, if cancellation procedures weren’t properly followed. We reinstated a policy in Chaska after improper lapse procedures.

What happens if the Minnesota life insurance policy lapsed due to non-payment?

We examine whether notice and grace periods were honored. In Alexandria, we proved the insurer failed to provide proper lapse notification.

Can a child receive life insurance proceeds in Minnesota?

Yes. We help families establish court-supervised accounts or guardianships for minor beneficiaries.

Can a Minnesota life insurance claim be denied for alleged fraud?

Only with clear proof. In a Roseville case, we defeated a fraud denial based on speculation and restored the full payout.

Can Minnesota life insurance claims be resolved without going to court?

Yes. Many disputes settle through negotiation. However, when necessary, we aggressively litigate in Minnesota courts.

What if the beneficiary change form wasn’t properly processed in Minnesota?

In Woodbury, we forced an insurer to honor the original beneficiary when the new designation was mishandled.

Are older life insurance policies still valid in Minnesota?

Yes. We successfully recovered benefits from a 1965-issued policy after a recent death in Saint Cloud.

How do I prove I’m the rightful beneficiary of a Minnesota life insurance policy?

We gather the policy, correspondence, and legal documents to establish your rights, then assert your claim in or out of court.

2025 Minnesota Denied Life Insurance Claims: settlements & verdicts

Below are examples of Minnesota life insurance claims successfully resolved.

Family Heritage life COVID-19 exclusion $44,000.00
Iowa Farm Life coronavirus denial won $98,000.00
Catholic Life lapse of policy nonpayment $50,000.00
SGLI claim change of beneficiary new wife $409,300.00
Equitrust sickness exclusion resolved $37,000.00
Chesapeake Life felony crime commission $108,000.00
Accidental Death & Dismemberment $905,000.00
ING Life heroin drug denial case won $50,000.00
SoFi Life lapse of policy due to late payment $13,000.00
First National Life wrong age on application $97,000.00
Mass shooting life insurance denial $149,000.00
USAA lapsed the policy due to nonpayment $31,000.00
Aflac interpleader action wife vs ex-wife won $72,000.00
AIG claimed misrepresentation application $318,300.00
COVID-19 life insurance claim denied we won $232,000.00
Inter-American life dispute among beneficiaries $113,000.00
Minnesota divorce and life insurance $251,690.00
SGLI dispute when beneficiary changed $400,000.00
Coronavirus life insurance claim we won $123,000.00
Denial of FEGLI claim wife versus ex-wife $245,000.00
Guarantee Security felony exclusion gun $276,000.00
American General was denied due to alcohol $214,500.00
Minnesota denied AD&D claim $519,300.00
MetLife self-inflicted injury resolved $128,421.00
Lincoln Heritage interpleader lawsuit 511,000.00
Denied SGLI claim girlfriend vs ex-wife $403,621.00
Minnesota denied life insurance claim $1,329,400.00
Prudential accidental death & dismemberment $406,000.00
Denied AD&D claim in Minnesota we just won $728,000.00
Globe material misrepresentation age & weight $218,000.00
Minnesota life insurance and divorce $304,250.00
Allianz drug exclusion opiates $101,400.00
Liberty Life autoerotic asphyxiation death $105,800.00
Denied life insurance claim Minnesota $2,075,000.00
FEGLI appeal won in record time $403,500.00
Claim of no coverage at time of death $66,900.00

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

Legal References – Minnesota

Minnesota Contestability Clause Law: Under Minn. Stat. § 61A.03, life insurance policies in Minnesota become incontestable after 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 Minn. Stat. § 524.2-804, 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: Minnesota 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 Minnesota's state laws in cases involving contested beneficiaries, including disputes with former spouses.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) offers nationwide insurance resources.

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.