
Virginia Life Insurance Lawyer
Life Insurance Lawyers Serving All 95 Virginia Counties
Christian Lassen, Esq. | 25 Years Experience | Hundreds of Millions Recovered
If your life insurance claim was denied in Virginia, 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 Virginia 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 in every region of Virginia. We handle denied life insurance claims in all 95 counties, and we never charge a fee unless we recover for you.
Denied Life Insurance Claim in Virginia? You’re Not Alone.
Families in Virginia are sometimes shocked when a life insurance provider denies a claim they believed was straightforward. If you're facing a denied life insurance policy in Virginia, The Lassen Law Firm can step in to challenge the denial and work to recover the benefits you’re owed.
In Virginia, beneficiary disputes often arise when life insurance policies are changed without clear documentation or when ex-spouses and family members assert conflicting claims. If you're facing a life insurance beneficiary dispute in Virginia, The Lassen Law Firm can help you navigate the legal challenges and fight for the payout you deserve.
In Virginia, life insurance companies frequently file an interpleader action in Virginia when conflicting beneficiary claims arise, asking the court to determine the rightful recipient of the policy proceeds.
Navigating life insurance claims in Virginia can be complicated, particularly when faced with denied benefits or bad faith insurance practices. At The Lassen Law Firm, we are committed to helping individuals and families across the Old Dominion State recover the payouts they deserve. We bring trusted legal expertise and personalized attention to every case.
As nationally recognized life insurance attorneys, we’ve successfully handled cases across all 50 states, and recovered hundreds of millions in policies for our clients. At The Lassen Law Firm, we combine legal experience, dedicated advocacy, and compassionate care to ensure justice for every client we serve. If you're confronting a denied accidental death benefit in Virginia, our legal team is prepared to help you fight for the coverage your loved one intended.
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 Virginia? We’re Ready to Protect Your Rights
Life insurance should provide financial protection during life’s most difficult moments. But in Virginia, too many families are confronted with denied claims, unexplained delays, or partial payments when they attempt to collect the benefits they were promised. If your life insurance claim has been denied, our Virginia life insurance attorneys are prepared to fight for your full benefits and enforce your rights under Virginia law.
Insurance companies are required to process life insurance claims fairly, promptly, and in good faith. When insurers wrongfully deny valid claims, delay payment without cause, or misinterpret policy language, beneficiaries have the right to challenge those actions. We offer free consultations and do not charge legal fees unless we successfully recover for you.
Contestability Periods and Life Insurance Denials in Virginia
Most life insurance policies issued in Virginia include a two-year contestability period. During this period, insurers are permitted to review claims and deny payment if they uncover material misrepresentations made on the application. After two years, an insurer’s ability to challenge a claim is significantly restricted unless there is proof of intentional fraud.
Under Virginia law, only material misstatements, falsehoods that would have affected the insurer’s decision to issue or price the policy, are grounds for rescission. Honest mistakes, small omissions, or unrelated errors typically do not justify claim denial.
If your claim has been denied based on contestability arguments, it’s critical to have a Virginia life insurance attorney review the denial to determine whether the insurer acted within the law.
Common Reasons Life Insurance Claims Are Denied in Virginia
Although each case is unique, insurers often rely on similar tactics when denying claims in Virginia. Common reasons include:
Alleged Misrepresentations
Claims that the insured failed to disclose important medical history, medications, or participation in hazardous activities.
Policy Lapses Due to Nonpayment
Virginia beneficiaries are sometimes told a policy lapsed, but the denial due to policy lapse is often tied to missed or confusing communications from the insurer.
Exclusions for Certain Causes of Death
Deaths related to suicide (within exclusion periods), criminal behavior, or dangerous hobbies may trigger policy exclusions.
Life Insurance Beneficiary Disputes
Challenges involving multiple claimants, outdated beneficiary designations, or family conflicts can delay payment.
Group Life Insurance Errors
Mistakes made by employers during group enrollment can deprive families of expected benefits.
Delays Due to Death Investigations
Insurers may delay claims during investigations, but unreasonable delays may violate Virginia’s insurance laws.
Even if the insurer provides an elaborate explanation, many denials do not withstand legal scrutiny and can be successfully challenged.
Important Steps to Take After a Life Insurance Denial in Virginia
Taking the right steps after a denial can make a major difference in protecting your claim. You should:
- Request and retain a complete copy of the life insurance policy, application, and any amendments.
- Carefully review the denial letter and document the insurer’s stated reasons.
- Preserve all written and electronic communications with the insurer.
- Avoid providing additional documents or statements without legal advice.
- Contact a Virginia life insurance lawyer immediately to evaluate your case and develop a strategy for challenging the denial.
Virginia law also provides beneficiaries with remedies when insurers act in bad faith or violate fair claims practices.
How Our Virginia Life Insurance Attorneys Fight Denied Claims
- When you work with us, you gain a legal team committed to protecting life insurance beneficiaries. We will:
- Thoroughly review your insurance policy, application documents, and the insurer’s denial justification.
- Identify any legal violations, bad faith actions, or improper interpretations of policy language.
- Challenge wrongful contestability rescissions, policy lapse defenses, and exclusions.
- Handle all communication and negotiations with the insurer on your behalf.
- Prepare administrative appeals when necessary for group life policies governed by ERISA.
- Litigate wrongful denials in Virginia courts when insurers refuse to pay valid claims.
- Pursue additional damages where insurers have engaged in bad faith practices under Virginia law.
Our focus is on recovering the full life insurance benefits your family deserves and holding insurers fully accountable when they fail to honor their obligations.
Federal life insurance programs like FEGLI and SGLI are often mismanaged, leading to wrongful claim denials. We help Virginia families secure benefits from denied military life insurance policies and resolve disputes involving rejected claims under the Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance plan.
Group life insurance policies provided by private employers are frequently subject to ERISA. If you're dealing with a denied workplace life insurance benefit in Virginia, we can assist with ERISA life insurance appeals and fight to recover the full amount you're entitled to.
Virginia Life Insurance Denial Questions – Real Answers Backed by Local Experience
What should I do if my life insurance claim was denied in Virginia?
You should contact a life insurance attorney right away. We recently helped a woman whose husband’s $250,000 policy was denied due to alleged high blood pressure non-disclosure. The death was unrelated, and we successfully overturned the denial within 60 days.
How can I respond to a life insurance interpleader lawsuit in Virginia?
You’ll need legal representation to assert your rights. If you have a beneficiary dispute or were served with an interpleader lawsuit, we can represent you.
What can I do about a disputed beneficiary change made right before death in Virginia?
You may be able to challenge it. In a recent case, a man changed his beneficiary to a caregiver just three weeks before passing. We showed cognitive decline and lack of capacity, and we got the change voided in favor of the deceased’s adult children.
Can I still recover benefits if the insurer claims the policy lapsed in Virginia?
Yes if proper procedures weren’t followed. In Virginia, a policyholder missed a payment while hospitalized. The insurer sent notice to the wrong address. We used mail records to prove improper lapse notification and secured full payout for the family.
Are Virginia courts strict about alcohol exclusions in life insurance?
They’re case-specific. In Henrico County, a claim was denied after a man drowned while intoxicated. The insurer invoked an alcohol exclusion, but we argued that alcohol wasn’t the proximate cause of death. The family received the life portion of the claim.
Can you sue for bad faith if a Virginia insurer delays paying?
Yes. A Chesapeake family waited over five months for payment with no explanation. We resolved the claim quickly.
Is an accidental death claim automatically denied if a medical event is involved?
Not necessarily. In Winchester, a man fell while hiking. The insurer claimed it was due to a heart attack. We obtained the autopsy report confirming trauma as the cause of death and overturned the denial of the AD&D claim.
Can a Virginia insurance agent’s mistake affect the validity of a policy?
Yes, but the insurer may still be liable. In Reston, an agent listed the wrong prescription on an application. The policyholder died two years later. We showed the error was the agent’s, not the insured’s, and secured the full benefit.
What happens if no one is named as beneficiary in the policy?
The benefit goes to the estate.
What is considered misrepresentation in a Virginia life insurance denial?
Material omissions or false statements. In Dale City, a policy was denied due to an unreported ER visit from years ago. We proved it had no bearing on the cause of death and the claim was reversed on appeal.
How do I appeal a denied ERISA life insurance claim in Virginia?
Submit a written appeal within 180 days. In a case involving a D.C.-based employer and a Centreville employee, we filed a detailed ERISA appeal package and recovered the denied $200,000 group benefit without needing litigation.
What if the insurer claims the beneficiary change form was never submitted?
Courts can recognize intent. In Manassas, a man completed a change-of-beneficiary form but died before submitting it. We introduced a photo of the signed form and emails discussing the update.
Can a will override a life insurance policy designation in Virginia?
No.
How can I prove I’m the rightful beneficiary of a Virginia life insurance policy?
Start by gathering the policy, payment history, and any written communications. In Fredericksburg, a niece contested a claim. We presented the policy’s beneficiary designation along with proof of regular contact and support from the insured. The claim was upheld.
Can I challenge a fraud-based denial?
Yes, but insurers must show clear intent to deceive. In Bedford, a denial was based on alleged false information about tobacco use. We provided evidence of cessation and won by proving the insurer lacked sufficient proof of fraud.
Can an insurer cancel a Virginia policy without written notice?
No. We fight these denied life insurance claims aggressively.
What if the insured died abroad and the insurer refuses to pay?
Foreign death denials are common. In Blacksburg, a woman’s husband died while visiting family in India. The policy didn’t clearly exclude foreign deaths, so we challenged the vague language and won.
What if the policy is decades old—can I still collect?
Yes, if it remained active. In Lynchburg, a woman discovered a 1985 policy in her father’s belongings. We verified premium history with the issuing company and successfully recovered the benefit.
Can multiple family members claim the same benefit?
Yes, and it often leads to interpleader lawsuits. In Bristol, both the wife and adult daughter of a decedent claimed a $300,000 policy. We successfully resolved the claim for our client.
Can insurers use vague policy language to deny claims?
They try, but Virginia law requires ambiguity to be interpreted in favor of the policyholder. In Colonial Heights, the insurer denied a claim citing vague language, but we argued otherwise and won.
Is mediation an option in Virginia life insurance disputes?
Yes. In Staunton, two brothers disputed a policy left by their father. We resolved the matter without the need for a court trial.
Can a claim be denied over minor application errors?
Only if material. In Pulaski, a man misstated his cholesterol medication. The insurer denied the claim. We proved the medication was unrelated to his sudden death and recovered the full benefit.
Can a policy canceled for non-payment still be reinstated?
Yes, under certain conditions. In Martinsville, a policy lapsed one week before death. We proved the insurer didn’t provide a grace period notice and secured a reinstatement.
Are ERISA life insurance claims harder to fight?
They follow strict federal rules, limiting damages. In McLean, a widow was denied benefits from her husband’s tech job. We successfully obtain the full policy for the client.
Contact us 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 15, 2025 | Contact 800-330-2274
More Virginia Cities We Serve
Alexandria
Hampton
Suffolk
Portsmouth
Roanoke
Lynchburg
Harrisonburg
Reston
Centreville
Dale City
Fredericksburg
Leesburg

Why The Lassen Law Firm Is Different


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Representing clients coast to coast and recovering hundreds of millions in denied life insurance claims, we secure justice and peace of mind for families everywhere.
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Perfect 10.0 Avvo rating endorsed by over 1,700 attorneys; life member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum; ranked among the top 1 percent of lawyers nationally for life insurance litigation.
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No upfront fees: our contingency fee guarantee aligns our interests with yours; we provide personalized, compassionate representation from your initial consultation through resolution.
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Quoted in The Wall Street Journal and featured in leading legal publications; frequent speaker at national conferences; dedicated to charitable efforts supporting pediatric cancer care.
