How to File a Life Insurance Claim After a Death
How to find policies, file a life insurance claim, and what to expect — including payouts that bypass probate.
Want this tracked alongside everything else you need to do?
Life insurance proceeds usually go straight to the named beneficiary and bypass probate, so this is often one of the faster ways for a family to access funds.
Step by step
- 1Find the policies. Check paperwork, email, employer benefits, and bank records. Group life through an employer is easy to miss.
- 2Contact each insurer. Ask for their claim form and what they require — usually a certified death certificate and the beneficiary’s ID.
- 3Submit the claim. File for each policy. Beneficiaries can often choose a lump sum or other payout options.
Common questions
Does life insurance go through probate?
Not when there’s a living named beneficiary — it’s paid directly to them. It only enters the estate if the beneficiary is ‘the estate’ or all named beneficiaries have died.
How do I find lost policies?
Check the deceased’s files and email, ask their employer, review bank statements for premium payments, and try your state’s unclaimed property and the NAIC policy locator.
Related guides
This is general information, not legal advice. Laws and thresholds vary by state and change over time — verify specifics with the official sources above or a licensed professional.