How to File a Life Insurance Claim After a Death | Honorly
INSURANCE & BENEFITS

How to File a Life Insurance Claim After a Death

Updated September 2026

Life insurance can be one of the most important sources of support for a family after a loss but insurers won't pay until a claim is filed with the right documents. This guide covers how to find policies, file claims, and recover available benefits.

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QUICK ANSWER

Life insurance proceeds usually pass directly to the named beneficiary, outside probate. To claim, identify each policy, contact the insurer, and submit a claim form with a certified death certificate. Coverage is easy to miss — remember to check employer group life, mortgage or credit life, and accidental death policies too.

AT A GLANCE
Who can handle it The named beneficiary; the executor if the policy is payable to the estate
Documents you may need Certified death certificate, claim form, policy number, and the beneficiary's ID
Does it require probate? Usually not; proceeds pass to the named beneficiary
What happens to the proceeds? Paid to the beneficiary; paid to the estate if no beneficiary is named
WHAT'S INVOLVED

How do you file a life insurance claim after someone dies?

  1. 01
    Identify all coverage
    Look for individual policies plus employer group life, mortgage or credit life, accidental death (AD&D), final-expense policies, annuities with death benefits, and any coverage through unions or associations.
  2. 02
    Locate the policy documents
    Check personal records, email, and bank statements for premium payments. You can also search the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator to find policies you don't know about.
  3. 03
    Contact each insurer
    Notify the company and request the claim forms for each policy. Ask what documents they require and how proceeds can be paid.
  4. 04
    Submit the claim
    Send the completed claim form and a certified death certificate for each policy. Keep copies of everything.
  5. 05
    Choose a payout option
    Depending on the policy, beneficiaries may have options for how they receive the proceeds, such as a lump sum or installment payments. Different options can have financial and tax implications, so understand the terms before deciding.
  6. 06
    Follow up until paid
    Track each claim to completion and confirm the funds are received.
FINDING COVERAGE

Where to look for policies you don't know about

HOW HONORLY HELPS

How does Honorly help?

We help identify active coverage, locate policies, request and submit claim forms, and follow up until benefits are paid. We also look for employer and association coverage families may not know exists.

You receive the benefits. We handle the search, the forms, and the follow-ups.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently asked questions about life insurance claims

Does life insurance go through probate?

Usually not. When a living beneficiary is named, the proceeds pass directly to them. Life insurance only enters the estate — and possibly probate — when it's payable to the estate or no beneficiary is named.

How do we find out if there was a policy?

Check personal records, employer benefits, and bank statements for premium payments, and search the free NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator.

Is life insurance money taxable?

Life insurance death benefits are generally not subject to federal income tax for the beneficiary, though there can be exceptions. A CPA can confirm for a specific situation.

About Honorly

Let us handle it.

Honorly is an estate settlement service that handles the administrative, financial, and legal tasks that follow a loved one's passing, so families aren't left to figure everything out alone.

We handle the calls, paperwork, and follow-ups that come after a loss, so your family can focus on each other.

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