The first step is contacting us to report the death of the insured. After a claim is opened, we will send you a personalized claims packet outlining all requirements. At a minimum, you must provide a completed Beneficiary Statement along with an original certified death certificate showing cause and manner of death. For claims with a benefit of $500,000 or less a copy of a certified death certificate may be acceptable. You will be notified in writing if any additional documents are required.

No. Only one certified death certificate is needed per claim. Originals are needed for death benefits over $500,000. For death benefits under $500,000 a copy of a certified death certificate is acceptable. However, each beneficiary will need to complete their own beneficiary statement.

If you are able to obtain the original life insurance policy or annuity contract, we ask that you return it to us along with your completed claim paperwork. However, failure to return the original policy or contract will not delay the processing of your claim.

If the primary beneficiary dies before the insured, the benefits are usually paid to the surviving beneficiary(ies), the contingent beneficiary(ies), or second contingent beneficiary(ies). A copy of a death certificate for the deceased beneficiary is required. If there is no surviving beneficiary, terms of the policy or contract will determine who is entitled to the benefits. Please keep in mind that your circumstances may vary and the ultimate beneficiary(ies) will be determined during the claim process. Please contact us for information specific to your claim.

If the beneficiary is a trust, in addition to the Beneficiary Statement and an original certified death certificate, a Certification and Acknowledgement of Trust Agreement is also required. We may also require a copy of the operative trust documents. Please contact us for information specific to your claim.

If the beneficiary is a company, a titled officer of the company must sign the Beneficiary Statement. A Corporate Resolution demonstrating that the titled officer has the authority to sign on behalf of the company is also required. Please contact us for information specific to your claim.

If the beneficiary is an estate, probate of the deceased’s estate may be required. In addition to the Beneficiary Statement and an original certified death certificate, letters testamentary (an order by the Probate Court, sometimes referred to as appointment papers, certificates of appointment or letters of administration) may also be required. Please contact us for information specific to your claim.

Probate is a legal process that takes place after someone dies and determines how the deceased person’s property is to be distributed. If the deceased left no will, or the will is not valid, probate will determine how the property is distributed. After the probate process is complete, the court will appoint or identify the estate representative, also referred to as an executor or administrator.

If the policy is assigned, the assignee and beneficiaries must complete our Affidavit of Extent of Interest, which must state the assignee’s interest in the proceeds. The remainder, if any, will be paid to the designated beneficiary(ies).

The death benefit proceeds are generally not taxable to the beneficiary, however, interest paid on the proceeds is subject to federal and state taxation. You should contact a tax advisor for more information specific to your individual situation.

All or part of the death benefit proceeds on an annuity may be taxable. The taxable portion and any withholding are reported to the IRS through Form 1099-R. There may be options available under the annuity contract that allow the beneficiary to defer the distribution of taxable payments. For more information regarding annuity taxation, please consult your tax advisor.