Life Insurance Lawyers

Life Insurance Lawyers in the United States

When a life insurance company denies or delays a legitimate claim, the financial consequences can be devastating. Life insurance lawyers represent beneficiaries who are fighting to collect the death benefits they're owed. These attorneys understand policy language, bad faith tactics, and the federal and state laws that govern insurance disputes.

What Life Insurance Law Covers

Life insurance law deals with disputes between policyholders or beneficiaries and insurance companies. The most common issue is a denied claim, where the insurer refuses to pay out a death benefit after the policyholder dies. Denials often cite reasons like alleged misrepresentation on the application, policy lapses, or contested cause of death.

This area also covers delayed payments, disputes over who the rightful beneficiary is, and claims involving employer-provided group life policies governed by ERISA (the Employee Retirement Income Security Act). Interlocutory disputes, accidental death claims, and contestability period challenges all fall under this umbrella.

When to Hire a Life Insurance Lawyer

• Your life insurance claim has been denied or unreasonably delayed
• The insurer claims the policyholder made material misrepresentations on their application
• Multiple parties are disputing who should receive the death benefit
• The policy was employer-sponsored and falls under ERISA regulations
• The insurance company is offering a settlement far below the policy's face value

How the Claims Process Works

After a policyholder dies, the beneficiary files a claim with the insurance company, typically submitting a death certificate and claim forms. The insurer then has a set period — usually 30 to 60 days depending on the state — to investigate and respond.

If the claim is denied, the beneficiary receives a denial letter explaining the reason. A life insurance lawyer will review the policy, the denial, and the circumstances of the death. Many cases settle through demand letters and negotiation. According to industry data, roughly 90% of insurance disputes resolve before trial. If negotiation fails, the attorney files a bad faith lawsuit or a breach of contract claim in court.

How Compensation Is Calculated

• Face value of the policy — the full death benefit amount stated in the contract
• Accrued interest — compensation for the time the insurer wrongfully withheld payment
• Bad faith damages — additional money awarded when the insurer acted unreasonably or deceptively in denying the claim
• Consequential damages for financial hardship caused by the delayed or denied payout
• Punitive damages in cases where the insurer's conduct was particularly egregious or willful, though these vary by state

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an insurance company deny a claim after the contestability period?

The contestability period typically lasts two years from the policy's start date. After that window closes, the insurer generally cannot deny a claim based on application errors or omissions. Exceptions exist for outright fraud, but denials after two years face a much higher legal bar.

How long does a life insurance dispute take to resolve?

Simple cases resolved through negotiation may wrap up in a few months. Contested cases involving ERISA claims or bad faith litigation can take one to three years. The timeline depends on the complexity of the denial and whether the case goes to trial.