Three basic documents:

1. Claim form:
2. Completed by beneficiary
3. Describes circumstances of death
4. Provides beneficiary information

5. Signed under penalty of perjury

6. Certified death certificate:

7. Official government-issued
8. Shows cause of death
9. Date and place of death

10. Physician or medical examiner signature

11. Policy document:

12. Original policy (if available)
13. Policy number minimum
14. Proves coverage existed

Additional documentation (if needed):
- Proof of beneficiary identity
- Medical records (if contestable period)
- Police report (accidental death)
- Autopsy report (suspicious circumstances)
- Attending physician statement

Step-by-step:

1. Notification (Day 1):

Beneficiary or agent notifies insurer
Insurer opens claim file
Sends claim packet to beneficiary

2. Documentation (Days 1-14):

Beneficiary gathers documents
Completes claim form
Obtains death certificate
Submits to insurer

3. Review (Days 14-30):

Insurer receives documentation
Verifies coverage
Reviews for any issues
May request additional information

4. Payment (Days 30-60):

Claim approved
Settlement option selected
Payment processed
Beneficiary receives funds

Typical timeframe: 30-60 days from complete documentation

How beneficiary receives death benefit:

1. Lump sum (most common):

Entire amount paid at once
Immediate access to funds
No ongoing payments

2. Interest only:

Principal held by insurer
Interest paid periodically
Principal remains intact
Can withdraw later

3. Fixed period:

Paid over specified time
5, 10, 15, 20 years
Equal installments
Principal + interest

4. Fixed amount:

Specified dollar amount per payment
Continues until funds exhausted
Flexible withdrawal schedule

5. Life income:

Payments for beneficiary's lifetime
Annuity-type payments
Cannot outlive income
Various options (period certain, joint)

Contestable Period (First 2 Years)

Enhanced investigation:
- Review application for misrepresentation
- Obtain medical records
- Interview attending physicians
- Verify all application statements
- May take 60-90 days

Potential outcomes:
- Approve and pay claim
- Deny for material misrepresentation
- Adjust benefit (if premium incorrect)

Suicide Within 2 Years

Suicide exclusion:
- Most policies exclude suicide first 2 years
- Refund of premiums paid
- No death benefit

After 2 years:
- Full death benefit paid
- Even if death by suicide

Accidental Death Benefit (ADB Rider)

Additional investigation:
- Verify death was accidental
- Not due to illness
- Within time limit (typically 90 days of accident)
- No exclusions apply

Double benefit if qualified:

Base policy: $500,000
ADB rider: $500,000
Total paid: $1,000,000

Disappearance/Missing Person

Presumption of death:
- Usually after 7 years missing
- Court declaration required
- Unexplained disappearance
- No contact or trace

Insurer options:
- Wait for court order
- Request bond/security
- Pay into court

Beneficiary Issues

Primary deceased before insured:
- Pay contingent beneficiary
- If none, pay estate

Beneficiary killed insured:
- Cannot profit from crime
- Treated as predeceased
- Contingent beneficiary receives

Multiple beneficiaries:
- Split per policy terms
- Equally if not specified
- Per stirpes vs. per capita

Minor beneficiary:
- Guardian appointed
- Held in trust
- Structured settlement

Triggers enhanced review:
- Death within contestable period
- Death within suicide exclusion
- Suspicious circumstances
- Recent policy increase
- Recent beneficiary change
- Accidental death claim
- Large face amount
- Policy taken out shortly before death

Small amounts (typically $1,000-$2,000):
- Insurer may pay to person who incurred expenses
- Funeral home
- Family member who paid
- Without formal beneficiary designation
- Avoids probate for small claims

Living benefits:
- Terminal illness (6-24 months to live)
- Pay portion of death benefit
- While insured still living
- Reduces death benefit

Process:
- Physician certification
- Proof of terminal condition
- Benefit amount (25%-100%)
- Payment to insured
- Remaining benefit at death

• Required documents: Claim form, death certificate, policy
• Certified death certificate: Official document showing cause of death
• Payment timeframe: 30-60 days after complete documentation
• Settlement options: Lump sum, interest only, fixed period, fixed amount, life income
• Lump sum: Most common settlement option
• Contestable period: First 2 years - enhanced investigation
• Suicide exclusion: First 2 years - only refund premiums
• After 2 years: Suicide covered - full benefit paid
• Incontestable clause: After 2 years cannot contest except fraud/no insurable interest
• ADB rider: Requires accidental death, doubles benefit
• Missing person: Presumed dead after 7 years
• Beneficiary killed insured: Cannot collect - treated as predeceased
• Facility of payment: Small amounts paid without formal probate
• Accelerated benefits: Terminal illness - receive portion while living