Life Insurance Beneficiary Claim
Letter and supporting documents for a beneficiary to claim life-insurance proceeds after the insured's death.
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Sam Taylor
88 Pine Lane, Portland, OR 97214
Phone: +1 503 555 0142
Date: June 19, 2026
To: Atlantic Life Insurance Company
Atlantic Life Claims Department, P.O. Box 4488, Hartford, CT 06105
Re: LIFE INSURANCE BENEFICIARY CLAIM
Policy number: LIFE-AL-2008-0044128
Insured: Jordan Alex Taylor (deceased April 15, 2026)
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To the Claims Department,
I am writing as a named beneficiary of the policy referenced above to claim the death benefit following the passing of the insured.
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DECEASED (INSURED)
Name: Jordan Alex Taylor
Date of birth: June 12, 1985
Date of death: April 15, 2026
Place of death: Portland, Oregon (OHSU Hospital)
Cause of death: Acute myocardial infarction (per death certificate)
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BENEFICIARY (CLAIMANT)
Name: Sam Taylor
Address: 88 Pine Lane, Portland, OR 97214
Phone: +1 503 555 0142
Relationship: Sister
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PAYMENT PREFERENCE
► Lump-sum check
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DOCUMENTS ATTACHED
Certified copy of death certificate (long form, with cause of death).
Completed insurer claim form (their form, signed).
Copy of policy or policy number with member ID.
Copy of beneficiary government-issued photo ID.
IRS Form W-9 (TIN for any taxable interest).
Copy of executor / administrator letters of testamentary (if claiming on behalf of estate).
Form 712 - Life Insurance Statement (filed by insurer for IRS reporting on estate-tax returns where applicable).
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SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
None - standard claim, single primary beneficiary, no contest expected.
(If applicable: contested beneficiary, accidental death rider claim, contestability period question, dispute, etc.)
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REQUESTED ACTION
(1) Acknowledge claim within 5 business days.
(2) Confirm policy is in force at the time of death (premiums current, no lapse).
(3) Process payment in the elected method within 30 days from receipt of complete documentation, or notify in writing of any contestability investigation.
(4) Provide IRS Form 712 (Life Insurance Statement) for use in estate-tax filing where applicable.
I am cooperating fully and will provide additional documentation upon request. Please direct correspondence to the address and phone above.
Sincerely,
_______________________________ Date: June 19, 2026
Sam Taylor
About this template
Life insurance death benefits are typically paid promptly when the documentation is complete. Most insurers process claims within 30-60 days of receiving (1) the certified death certificate, (2) the completed claim form, and (3) beneficiary identification. State law often requires payment within 30 days of receipt of complete proof of death, with interest accruing thereafter (typically 8-10% annually). The "contestability period" - typically the first 2 years of the policy - allows the insurer to investigate the application for material misrepresentations; deaths during this period often trigger a more thorough review (medical records review, autopsy review, application accuracy check). Suicide during the contestability period is excluded by most policies (suicide riders limit the death benefit to return of premiums in this case). Beyond the contestability period, the insurer's investigation is much more limited - generally just verifying the claim documents are valid. Death benefits are GENERALLY income-tax-free to beneficiaries under IRC §101(a) - the receipt is not taxable. Estate-tax implications are different: life insurance proceeds are includable in the insured's estate for federal estate tax purposes if the insured had any "incidents of ownership" at death (or transferred ownership within 3 years of death). Most middle-class estates fall well below the federal exemption ($13.6M+ in 2026); state-level estate-tax exemptions are lower in some states. For policies with multiple beneficiaries, contested beneficiary designations, accidental-death riders, or large policies (over $1M), engage an estate-planning attorney before settling.
When to use it
- Beneficiary claiming death benefit after the insured's death.
- Multiple-beneficiary claims (each beneficiary files their portion).
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) rider claim.
- Policy with optional living-benefit riders being triggered.
- Contested beneficiary situations.
What to include
- Beneficiary identification and relationship.
- Policy number and insurer.
- Insured's identification and date/place/cause of death.
- Payment-method preference.
- Certified death certificate and supporting documents.
- Special circumstances (contestability, contests, riders).