Glossary

Claimant

The person or entity that files for a policy's benefits, usually a named beneficiary, executor or assignee after the insured's death.

A claimant is whoever submits a claim to an insurance company for payment under a policy. For a life insurance death claim, that is usually a named beneficiary, but it can also be the executor of an estate (when the estate is the beneficiary or no beneficiary survives), a trustee, a guardian or custodian for a minor, or a lender or funeral home holding an assignment.

To file, the claimant typically sends the insurer a claim form, a certified death certificate and proof of identity. Insurers may ask for more, such as medical records or an autopsy or police report, when the death occurred during the contestability period or was accidental. Hypothetical example: when the primary beneficiary has already died, the contingent beneficiary becomes the claimant and must also provide the primary beneficiary's death certificate.

If two or more people claim the same proceeds, such as an ex-spouse and a current spouse, the insurer may decline to choose and instead file an interpleader action, depositing the money with a court that decides. Claimants have rights under state law, including timely handling and, in many states, interest on delayed payments. See how to file a life insurance claim and documents you need for a life insurance claim.

Last reviewed October 4, 2026

In the index now

Related terms

Beneficiary The person, trust, charity or estate named to receive a life insurance death benefit or an annuity's remaining value when the insured or owner dies. Proof of death The documents a life insurer requires before paying a claim, usually a certified death certificate plus a completed claimant's statement. Death certificate The official government record of a person's death, listing the date, place and cause; insurers need a certified copy to process a claim. Executor The person named in a will, or appointed by a court, to settle a deceased person's estate: gather assets, pay debts and taxes, and distribute what remains. Interpleader A lawsuit in which an insurer facing competing claims deposits the death benefit with a court and asks the judge to decide who should receive it.

Related guides

Accidental death claims: why they get disputed Why insurers question accidental death and AD&D claims, from intoxication and illness exclusions to unclear causes, and how to build a stronger claim. How to appeal a denied life insurance claim Steps to challenge a denied death claim: get the denial and claim file, check deadlines, file an internal appeal, complain to the state, and know when to sue. Bad faith claim handling by life insurers What bad faith means for a life insurance claim, how state law and ERISA change your remedies, and what to document if an insurer stalls or denies unfairly. Life insurance beneficiary disputes and interpleader When two people claim one death benefit, insurers file interpleader. How Rule 22 and 28 U.S.C. 1335 work, and what claimants should do. Collateral assignment of life insurance How pledging a life insurance policy to a lender works, what the lender can collect, how it affects your beneficiaries, and how to release it. Filing a life insurance claim when the death happens abroad How to claim after a U.S. citizen dies overseas: the Consular Report of Death Abroad, foreign death certificates, translations, exclusions and common delays.

Related tools

Life insurance claim checklist A four-part checklist for a beneficiary collecting a death benefit: gather documents, contact the insurer, submit the claim and follow up.