Denied Globe Life insurance claim
When the primary beneficiary of a life insurance policy is deceased, there is a specific process that comes into play to determine who will receive the proceeds. Our life insurance lawyers handle denied life insurance claims. Here are the steps and considerations:
- Contingent Beneficiary: Most life insurance policies allow the policyholder to designate a contingent or secondary beneficiary. If the primary beneficiary is deceased, the proceeds of the policy will typically go to the contingent beneficiary. The contingent beneficiary is often named as an alternative or backup in case the primary beneficiary predeceases the policyholder. Our life insurance law firm can dispute any policy whether there is a named beneficiary or not.
- Estate Distribution: If there is no contingent beneficiary named, or if the contingent beneficiary is also deceased, the proceeds will typically become part of the policyholder’s estate. This means the proceeds will be subject to the probate process, and they will be distributed according to the policyholder’s will or the laws of intestacy in their state if there is no will.
- Legal Process: The probate process involves a legal examination of the deceased policyholder’s assets, debts, and beneficiaries. A court will oversee the distribution of assets to creditors, taxes, and beneficiaries according to the deceased’s wishes (as expressed in their will) or state laws.
- Creditor Claims: During probate, the deceased’s outstanding debts may be paid from the proceeds of the life insurance policy before the remaining funds are distributed to beneficiaries. This can reduce the amount available for beneficiaries.
- State Laws of Intestacy: If the policyholder did not have a will or did not specify beneficiaries in the will, the state’s laws of intestacy will determine who receives the proceeds. This typically prioritizes surviving relatives, such as a spouse, children, or parents.
Our life insurance lawyers can contest any policy with no beneficiary, and we can dispute any named beneficiary.