how do i claim life insurance for my mother after my dad has deceased?
My father has 2 different life ins policies, when calling bankers life they said they need the original policy. One of the policies was over 50 years ago, no way i will find the original. Where do I turn for assistance in turning in these policies? Does any one no the process of documents, and legalities that need to be done after a death?
All you need is the policy number itself. Often times people don’t keep the policy number in a seperate place so it’s just easiest to ask for the original policy. As long as you can find the policy number you should be able to get the claims process started. If that doesn’t work, the company should have a data base of all their clients. Just get them to search by your fathers name and they will likely need some other information like date of birth or something as well and that should work. If the phone lacky that answers the phone doesn’t help you, ask for a supervisor and go up the chain of command. If you know for a fact he has an inforce policy there it shouldn’t be difficult to get the claims process rolling even without the orginal policy.
Bankers life does NOT need the original policy, to process a claim. All they need is a valid policy number. You don’t “turn in” a policy, all you do is file the claim.
There is no “warehouse” that stores insurance policies like this. There is no database where you can look it up. HOWEVER. If there is an active policy, then there will be a cancelled check PAYING for it. If they aren’t paying for the policy, odds are, the policy cancelled a LONG time ago.
Also, if there is an active policy, the policy owner would get a STATEMENT on that policy.
Oh, and no one can “claim” benefits. Either the named beneficiary gets paid, under the policy, or it goes to the estate of the deceased, to be distributed through probate court.
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They should be able to send you an affidavit that the policy was lost. You just certify that you can’t locate the policy and send it to them. They may have a form or you may be able to just write out a statement. They will also need your father’s death certificate. I am assuming that you are the named beneficiary.
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Been there, done that…
Discuss this with atty who did the will. Surprised, actually, that this has not come up already. If there was no will OR atty, hire someone with experience in wills/estates. A whole BUNCH of things need to happen when someone dies – with or without a will, i.e., production of death certificates, final income tax submission for dad and disbursement of his assets according to very strict rules … Not surprisingly, this is one of the most complex areas of law because of the complex rules and the financial considerations involved. You’re right to feel overwhelmed and to seek help.
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I work for State farm Insurance and all we really require is like a death certificate..
im sorry bout ur father…
um
TDI
is the Texas Deparment of Insurance
Every company has to listen to them, its like the insurance authority…its the place where ppl complain bout companies etc..
if they give you any trouble try looking for the number online not sure what it is
good luck
let me knwo if you have anyquestions
u can email me at yahoo
superman_1216@yahoo.com
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“mbrcatz” is correct as usual.
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All you need is the policy number itself. Often times people don’t keep the policy number in a seperate place so it’s just easiest to ask for the original policy. As long as you can find the policy number you should be able to get the claims process started. If that doesn’t work, the company should have a data base of all their clients. Just get them to search by your fathers name and they will likely need some other information like date of birth or something as well and that should work. If the phone lacky that answers the phone doesn’t help you, ask for a supervisor and go up the chain of command. If you know for a fact he has an inforce policy there it shouldn’t be difficult to get the claims process rolling even without the orginal policy.
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Financial Advisor (never been instructed by any company that the original policy book is required to pay out a claim and I’ve paid out a couple claims so far in my career)