Glossary

Proof of death

The documents a life insurer requires before paying a claim, usually a certified death certificate plus a completed claimant's statement.

Also called: due proof of death

Life insurance contracts promise to pay on receipt of "due proof of death." In practice, that means a certified copy of the death certificate and a claimant's statement (the insurer's claim form) signed by each beneficiary. The insurer may also ask for the policy itself or a lost-policy form, proof of identity and, in some cases, additional records.

The extra documents depend on circumstances. If the insured died within the two-year contestable period, expect a request for medical records so the insurer can check the application. An accidental death claim may require a police or autopsy report. A death abroad usually requires a consular report of death, and a missing person case may need a court declaration of presumed death. Hypothetically, a beneficiary filing on a policy issued 18 months ago might wait weeks longer than one filing on a 10-year-old policy, because the insurer reviews the original application.

Order several certified copies of the death certificate from the funeral home or the state vital records office, since banks, retirement plans and other insurers may each want one. Many states require insurers to pay interest if a claim isn't paid within a set time after proof is received. See our documents you need for a life insurance claim guide and the life insurance claim checklist.

Last reviewed October 4, 2026

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Related terms

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. Claimant The person or entity that files for a policy's benefits, usually a named beneficiary, executor or assignee after the insured's death. Death benefit The money a life insurance policy pays to the beneficiaries when the insured dies, usually the face amount adjusted for loans, riders and dividends. 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. Incontestability clause A provision that bars the insurer from voiding coverage over application misstatements once it has been in force for two years during the insured's life.

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. The two-year contestability period In the first two years, a life insurer can review the application and contest a claim over material errors. What it covers, what restarts it, how to prepare. 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. Lost life insurance policy finder A step-by-step search for a policy a relative may have left, with your state's unclaimed property link and regulator contact.