Rhode Island Life Insurance Lawyer

Life Insurance Lawyers Serving All of Rhode Island

Christian Lassen, Esq. | 25 Years Experience | Hundreds of Millions Recovered

If your life insurance claim was denied in Rhode Island, 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 across Rhode Island recover millions in wrongfully denied death benefits. 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 throughout Rhode Island. We handle denied life insurance claims statewide, and we never charge a fee unless we recover for you.

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

In Rhode Island, families may be left without critical financial support when a life insurance provider wrongfully denies a claim. If you're dealing with a life insurance benefit denial in Rhode Island, The Lassen Law Firm is ready to fight for your rights and pursue the full payout your loved one intended.

Life insurance beneficiary disputes in Rhode Island often stem from conflicting claims between relatives, outdated beneficiary designations, or suspected fraud. If you're involved in a life insurance beneficiary dispute in Rhode Island, The Lassen Law Firm can help you take legal action to protect your rightful interest in the policy.

When multiple individuals claim life insurance benefits in Rhode Island, insurers typically file an interpleader lawsuit in Rhode Island to place the decision in the court’s hands and avoid paying the wrong party.

Dealing with life insurance claims in Rhode Island can be daunting, especially when facing denied benefits or bad faith insurance practices. At The Lassen Law Firm, we are dedicated to helping individuals and families across the Ocean State recover the payouts they deserve. We provide expert legal guidance and personalized support to every client.

With a nationwide presence, our experienced life insurance attorneys have successfully recovered hundreds of millions in policies for our clients. At The Lassen Law Firm, we bring dedication, legal expertise, and relentless advocacy to fight for justice for those we represent. 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 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 Rhode Island? We’re Ready to Advocate for You

Life insurance promises financial protection when families need it most. Sadly, in Rhode Island, beneficiaries often face unexpected denials, long delays, or lowball settlement offers when they attempt to collect life insurance proceeds. If your claim has been denied, our Rhode Island life insurance attorneys are ready to step in, enforce your rights, and fight for the benefits you were promised. Beneficiaries in Rhode Island who face a denied AD&D insurance claim can turn to us for help navigating the appeals process and enforcing their rights.

Insurance companies doing business in Rhode Island are required to handle claims fairly, promptly, and in good faith. When insurers violate these duties, Rhode Island law provides remedies, including potential claims for bad faith conduct. We offer free consultations and only charge fees if we recover benefits for you.

Contestability Periods and Life Insurance Claims in Rhode Island

Most life insurance policies in Rhode Island include a two-year contestability period. During this time, insurers may deny claims if they discover material misstatements made during the initial application process. Once the two-year period expires, insurers generally cannot deny a claim based on application errors unless they can prove intentional fraud.

It’s important to understand that only material misrepresentations, mistakes that would have influenced the insurer’s decision to issue or price the policy, allow for denial. Honest mistakes, irrelevant omissions, and minor inaccuracies typically do not justify rescinding coverage under Rhode Island law.

If your claim was denied based on contestability arguments, you should have an experienced Rhode Island life insurance attorney review the denial to determine whether the insurer acted lawfully.

Common Reasons Life Insurance Claims Are Denied in Rhode Island

Although the specifics vary, insurers often use familiar strategies when denying life insurance claims. In Rhode Island, frequent reasons for denial include:

Alleged Misrepresentations on the Application

Claims that the insured failed to disclose medical conditions, tobacco use, or risky hobbies.

Policy Lapse for Nonpayment

In Rhode Island, insurers often point to unpaid premiums to deny claims, but many life insurance lapse determinations are based on procedural errors that can be legally contested.

Exclusions for Certain Causes of Death

Deaths connected to suicide (within exclusion periods), criminal activities, or hazardous activities may be excluded based on policy language.

Beneficiary Disputes

Conflicts between surviving family members, questions about outdated designations, or allegations of undue influence can delay claims.

Group Life Insurance Administrative Errors

Mistakes made during enrollment or policy administration by employers can wrongfully deprive beneficiaries of coverage.

Delays Related to Death Investigations

While insurers may delay claims if a death is under investigation, they are still required to act reasonably and in good faith under Rhode Island law.

Even if the insurer appears confident in its denial, many claim denials are flawed and can be successfully overturned with strong legal advocacy.

Important Steps to Take After a Life Insurance Denial in Rhode Island

Taking the right steps immediately after receiving a denial is critical. You should:

• Request and review a complete copy of the insurance policy, application, and any policy riders or amendments.
• Save the denial letter and carefully document the insurer’s stated reasons.
• Keep copies of all correspondence with the insurance company.
• Avoid making additional statements or submissions without consulting a life insurance attorney.
• Contact a Rhode Island life insurance lawyer right away to evaluate your case and begin preparing a legal strategy.

Rhode Island law also allows beneficiaries to seek extra-contractual damages if the insurer engages in unfair claim practices or bad faith behavior.

How Our Rhode Island Life Insurance Attorneys Handle Denied Claims

When you hire our firm, you gain a legal team dedicated to protecting life insurance beneficiaries. We will:

• Analyze your policy, the denial letter, and all associated application materials.
• Identify violations of Rhode Island insurance law and unfair settlement practices.
• Challenge wrongful contestability rescissions, policy lapses, and improper exclusions.
• Manage all communication and negotiations with the insurance company.
• File administrative appeals when necessary, particularly for group life insurance governed by ERISA.
• Litigate wrongful denials in Rhode Island courts when insurers refuse to pay valid claims.
• Pursue additional damages if the insurer’s behavior rises to the level of bad faith.

Our commitment is to secure the full life insurance benefits your family deserves and to hold insurers accountable when they break their legal obligations.

Federal life insurance claims under FEGLI and SGLI are sometimes denied without proper investigation, leaving families without the support they expected. We help Rhode Island clients challenge denied Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance claims and appeal unjust rejections under the Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance system.

If your life insurance coverage was obtained through a private-sector employer, ERISA likely governs your claim. Our firm assists Rhode Island beneficiaries with denied ERISA life insurance claims and ensures full compliance with federal appeals procedures to pursue a successful outcome.

Rhode Island Denied Life Insurance Claims: Answers to Common Questions

What Should I Do If My Life Insurance Claim Was Denied in Rhode Island?

If your life insurance claim was denied in Rhode Island, consult a skilled Rhode Island life insurance attorney immediately. In a recent case in Warwick, we successfully overturned a denial where the insurer misapplied a health exclusion.

How Do I Respond to a Life Insurance Interpleader Lawsuit in Rhode Island?

An interpleader action means the insurer is asking the court to resolve competing claims. We recently defended a claimant in Providence who faced an interpleader filed by two distant relatives.

What If I'm Involved in a Life Insurance Beneficiary Dispute in Rhode Island?

Beneficiary disputes often involve ex-spouses or children from previous relationships. In Cranston, we resolved a heated dispute between an ex-wife and adult children over a contested policy.

Why Are Accidental Death & Dismemberment Claims Denied in Rhode Island?

Insurers often deny AD&D claims by blaming pre-existing conditions. In Pawtucket, we proved a workplace fall was purely accidental and forced the insurer to pay.

Can a Policy Lapse Lead to a Denied Life Insurance Claim in Rhode Island?

Yes, but only if the insurer followed all notice rules. We recently overturned a lapse denial in East Providence where the required 30-day grace period notice was never sent.

Can Misrepresentation on an Application Be a Valid Reason for Denial in Rhode Island?

Only if it was material and intentional. In Newport, we helped a client recover benefits by showing that an omitted prescription medication had no bearing on the cause of death.

Can an Alcohol Exclusion Prevent Payment on a Life Insurance Policy in Rhode Island?

It can, but only if alcohol directly caused the death. In Woonsocket, we challenged a wrongful alcohol exclusion denial where alcohol was not the proximate cause.

What Should I Do If My Group Life Insurance Claim Was Denied Under ERISA in Rhode Island?

Under ERISA, you get only one appeal. We successfully appealed a denied ERISA claim for a family in Cumberland after showing administrative errors in the handling of enrollment forms.

What Is the Contestability Period in Rhode Island Life Insurance Policies?

The two-year contestability window allows insurers to investigate misstatements. In Central Falls, we fought back against a contestability denial by showing the misstatement was unrelated to the cause of death.

What If I Receive a Denial Letter Referencing Rhode Island Law?

Insurers sometimes misinterpret Rhode Island law. We recently caught a mistake in a denial letter issued to a client in North Kingstown and reversed the decision.

Which Rhode Island Life Insurance Companies Deny the Most Claims?

MetLife and Providence Mutual, both active in Warwick, have been involved in disputed claims. We represent clients against all life insurers in Rhode Island.

Does Rhode Island Law Revoke Ex-Spouse Beneficiary Designations After Divorce?

Yes. In Tiverton, we helped the children of a deceased father claim the benefit after the insurer wrongfully awarded the payout to a former spouse.

Is Rhode Island a Community Property State and Does It Affect Life Insurance?

No. Rhode Island is not a community property state, but we’ve assisted spouses in Johnston in asserting their rights when marital funds were used to pay premiums.

Can a Will Override a Life Insurance Beneficiary in Rhode Island?

No. A life insurance policy’s beneficiary designation controls.

What Do Rhode Island Life Insurance Attorneys Charge?

We work on a contingency fee basis, you don’t owe us anything unless we recover your benefit.

Can a Life Insurance Claim in Rhode Island Be Denied for a Death That Occurred Outside the U.S.?

Yes, but only if a foreign death exclusion is valid and clearly applies. In Westerly, we successfully fought a denial involving a death that occurred during a vacation abroad.

What Happens If a Beneficiary Was Changed Shortly Before Death in Rhode Island?

Late changes can be challenged. In Bristol, we invalidated a change that had been made just days before death under suspicious circumstances.

What Should I Do If My Rhode Island Life Insurance Claim Is Being Delayed Without Explanation?

Unreasonable delays may amount to bad faith. In South Kingstown, we forced an insurer to pay promptly after dragging out a legitimate claim for months.

Can an Insurer in Rhode Island Deny an AD&D Claim by Calling the Death Natural?

Yes, but we frequently dispute this. In Lincoln, we proved that a fatal car crash met the policy's definition of accidental death.

What If a Rhode Island Life Insurance Agent Made a Mistake on the Application?

If the agent made the error, the insurer may still owe benefits. In Narragansett, we overturned a denial based on an agent’s incomplete application entry.

What Qualifies as Bad Faith in a Rhode Island Life Insurance Denial?

Bad faith includes unreasonable delays, inadequate investigations, and misrepresentations. We recently secured punitive damages in a Warwick case involving egregious delay tactics.

Can I Appeal a Life Insurance Denial Made During the Contestability Period in Rhode Island?

Absolutely. In Portsmouth, we successfully appealed a denial issued during contestability by showing the alleged misstatement was irrelevant.

Are ERISA Life Insurance Claims Harder to Win in Rhode Island?

They are procedurally tougher, but our Rhode Island attorneys routinely succeed in federal court and administrative appeals.

What Happens If There’s No Beneficiary Listed on a Rhode Island Life Insurance Policy?

The proceeds usually go to the estate. We helped a family in Scituate claim an estate-based payout through Rhode Island probate court.

Can I Dispute a Questionable Beneficiary Change in Rhode Island?

Yes. In Smithfield, we contested a change made while the insured was incapacitated and successfully restored the original beneficiary.

Do Life Insurers in Rhode Island Have to Provide Notice Before Canceling a Policy?

Yes. Failure to give proper notice before lapse can invalidate a cancellation, as we proved in a recent Providence County case.

What Happens With Union or Group Life Insurance Coverage in Rhode Island?

Group policies often involve ERISA rules and employer mistakes. We helped a teacher in Warwick recover a denied group benefit caused by an HR enrollment error.

Can More Than One Person Claim the Same Life Insurance Benefit in Rhode Island?

Yes. The insurer may file an interpleader. We successfully defended a client’s share in a Cranston interpleader action.

What If the Insured Person in Rhode Island Went Missing and Was Declared Legally Dead?

After a court declaration of death, the claim can proceed. We helped a family in Exeter navigate this process and recover benefits.

What Are the Appeal Deadlines for Denied Life Insurance Claims in Rhode Island?

ERISA claims must be appealed within 180 days. State policies may have different timelines. We ensure all Rhode Island appeals are filed properly and timely.

Are Verbal Agreements About Life Insurance Enforceable in Rhode Island?

Generally not. Rhode Island law requires written designations, but we sometimes pursue equitable claims when fraud or deceit is involved.

Are Life Insurance Benefits Protected From Creditors in Rhode Island?

Yes, when a living beneficiary is named. If the proceeds go to the estate, creditors may access the funds through probate.

Can Unclear Life Insurance Policy Language Lead to a Denial in Rhode Island?

Ambiguous terms must be interpreted in favor of the beneficiary under Rhode Island law. We challenge denials based on vague language.

Can a Lapsed Life Insurance Policy Still Pay Out in Rhode Island?

Yes, if the insurer failed to meet cancellation notice requirements or if reinstatement efforts were made.

What If the Rhode Island Policy Was Canceled for Non-Payment?

We check if proper notice was given. If it wasn’t, as we recently proved in Little Compton, the policy might still be enforceable.

Can a Child Receive Life Insurance Money in Rhode Island?

Yes. If a minor is named, a guardian or trust may need to be set up. We help families in Rhode Island manage minor beneficiaries’ proceeds safely.

Can Rhode Island Insurers Deny a Claim Based on Fraud Allegations?

Only if they can prove fraud with solid evidence. We frequently defeat denials based on vague or unfounded accusations.

Can a Life Insurance Dispute in Rhode Island Be Resolved Without Going to Court?

Yes. Many are resolved through negotiation or mediation, but we are fully prepared to litigate if necessary.

What Happens If a Beneficiary Change Form Wasn’t Submitted in Rhode Island?

If the change wasn’t finalized, the original beneficiary may still prevail. We help enforce the insured’s original intentions.

Are Older Life Insurance Policies Still Enforceable in Rhode Island?

Yes. If the policy was active at the time of death, even older Rhode Island policies remain fully valid.

How Can I Prove I’m the Correct Life Insurance Beneficiary Under Rhode Island Law?

We compile policy records, communications, witness testimony, and legal documents to present the strongest case possible.

Life Insurance Claim Disputes in Rhode Island

Rhode Island life insurance disputes sometimes make their way into federal court, especially when insurers file interpleader actions to avoid choosing between competing beneficiaries. These cases are handled in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, located in Providence. We’ve successfully represented clients in this venue where federal procedure, rather than state law alone, governs how benefits are distributed.

Although Rhode Island is not a community property state, spousal rights can still come into play. In certain cases, a surviving spouse may have a valid legal argument to claim a share of the proceeds, especially if the policy was purchased during the marriage using joint resources. We’ve handled claims where such arguments persuaded insurers to settle before litigation became necessary.

State law also automatically removes an ex-spouse as a life insurance beneficiary following divorce, unless the policyholder clearly reaffirmed that choice afterward. However, this rule can be overridden when ERISA-controlled group policies are involved. We’ve challenged and defended beneficiary designations under both state divorce decrees and federal preemption rules, often turning on subtle details in plan documents.

Denials in Rhode Island frequently arise from allegations of application misstatements, policy lapse, or coverage exclusions. In one case out of Warwick, we successfully appealed a denial related to an alleged health misrepresentation by showing the insurer had waived its right to contest it. These types of arguments require careful navigation of both Rhode Island contract principles and the insurer’s own internal claims protocols.

Contact us today for a free consultation.

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: June 14, 2025 | Contact 800-330-2274