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Losing a family member can be devastating. A sudden loss of your family’s breadwinner can be traumatic and terrifying.
How do you keep your finances afloat after the primary source of income is taken away?
If your family member dies after a long illness, how do you offset the medical and funeral expenses and still manage to bridge the financial burden?
If your loved one was a life insurance policyholder, and you were a listed beneficiary, filling a life insurance claim can give you some peace of mind. It is important to report a claim immediately after death to avoid unnecessary delays and complications in the payment process.
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However, some life insurance companies are infamous for delaying and denying life insurance claims and this leads to further financial hardship to your grieving family. This is why you should work with a life insurance lawyer who will fight for you and ensure that you get paid for the death benefits that you are truly owed.
Here are 4 tips on how you can get help with a life insurance policy after a family member dies.
#1. Get the Death Certificate
The first thing you will need to do is to get the death certificate of the deceased. This will be proof that the insured has passed away. This certificate can be obtained from the local government offices of from the funeral home that managed the funeral.
All the information that the insurance company needs such as the date when your loved one died and the cause of death will be clearly indicated on the death certificate.
#2. Contact the Deceased’s Attorney
The deceased’s lawyer can be of great help and can answer all your questions and concerns regarding the life insurance policy.
The deceased’s attorney can also help you find the physical document that contains the name of the beneficiary and the total amount payable.
You should also call the deceased’s bank and find out if your family member stored the policy in a safety deposit box at the bank.
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#3. Get in Touch with the Deceased’s Employer
Your loved one could have purchased his life insurance policy through work. If this is the case, be sure to call the human resource department at his former place of work and ask them about the policy and if possible, get a copy so that you can start the claims process.
#4. Find Out About Lost Insurance Policies
The sudden death of a family member can leave you without any paperwork and this can make the claim process difficult.
Remember, privacy is still important after death and insurance companies can withhold information especially from people who are not immediate family members.
Wrap up
After you have contacted the employer and the attorney of the deceased, you can also visit the state treasurer agency in the local area where your late family member lived. These agencies can help you find unclaimed funds from insurance companies and other payouts.
However, you must be authorized by the deceased estate before seeking help from these agencies. Do your research beforehand to avoid getting scammed. If the agency asks you for money in exchange for the claim, regard it with the utmost suspicion.
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