Can a Life Insurance Company Deny a Claim for Missing Documents? Here’s What You Need to Know
Yes, life insurance companies frequently delay or deny claims based on missing documents—but in many cases, this is a tactic to avoid paying valid benefits. Insurers are required to notify beneficiaries of what paperwork is needed, and they cannot use the absence of certain records—like a toxicology or autopsy report—as an indefinite excuse to stall a claim decision. If your claim has been delayed for this reason, legal help may be necessary.
Why Life Insurance Companies Make Claim Filing So Difficult
Many people believe life insurance companies exist to provide support in times of grief. In reality, their primary mission is to generate profits. Like all corporations, life insurers are accountable to shareholders and are under constant pressure to minimize payouts while maximizing premiums. This financial incentive creates a troubling dynamic: the fewer claims they pay, the more money they retain. And while they are legally obligated to honor valid claims, they often search for technical reasons to delay or deny them.
One of the most commonly exploited tactics is to claim that the beneficiary failed to submit the required paperwork. As attorneys who routinely challenge wrongful life insurance denials, we’ve seen insurers lean on this excuse time and time again—even when the missing documents are irrelevant or unnecessary under the law.
Key Documents Often Requested with a Life Insurance Claim
If you’ve filed a life insurance claim, it’s normal for the insurer to request documentation. But it’s also important to understand which documents are required, which are optional, and which ones are sometimes used improperly to justify denials.
Certified Death Certificate
Nearly every life insurance claim requires a certified copy of the insured’s death certificate. This is a standard, legitimate requirement. Insurers must confirm that the policyholder has died before releasing the death benefit. A certified death certificate is considered an official government record and is usually the most straightforward document to obtain. However, delays in obtaining it from a state agency can sometimes stall the claim process—and insurers may unfairly blame the beneficiary for that delay.
Toxicology Report
During the contestability period—typically the first two years after the policy is issued—insurance companies have broad discretion to investigate the cause of death. One of the most frequently cited tools in that investigation is the toxicology report. If the policy includes a drug exclusion clause, and the insured died during the contestability period, the insurer may use a toxicology report to determine whether the death was caused by the use of illegal or non-prescribed substances.
It’s important to understand that toxicology reports are only relevant during this window. After the contestability period expires, the insurer generally cannot invoke the drug exclusion unless there is explicit policy language extending that exclusion. If a death occurred after the two-year mark, and the insurer is delaying a payout while waiting on a toxicology report, that’s a red flag—and possibly a sign of a wrongful delay.
Autopsy Report
Insurance companies often request an autopsy report to confirm the precise cause of death. They’re typically looking for causes that would allow them to deny coverage, such as suicide, participation in a felony, or drug overdose. But many people die of natural causes or after prolonged illnesses, and autopsies are not always conducted in those cases.
Insurers know this. Nevertheless, they may try to use the absence of an autopsy report as a justification for delay. In truth, there is no legal basis for denying a claim simply because an autopsy was not performed—especially when the cause of death is well documented in the death certificate or attending physician’s statement.
Coroner’s Report
In certain deaths—accidents, homicides, suicides, or deaths occurring under suspicious or unusual circumstances—a coroner is required to conduct an investigation and issue a report. Insurance companies will often request this document to further scrutinize the death for exclusions. If your policy requires a coroner’s report and one was created, you should provide it. However, if no such report exists, that alone is not a valid reason to delay or deny your claim. Many deaths don’t trigger a coroner’s investigation, and insurers are well aware of this.
Police Report
Some life insurance policies exclude coverage if the insured died while committing a crime. In these situations, insurers may request a police report to determine whether criminal activity was involved. As with the other documents, police reports are not issued in every case. Unless the death involved a traffic incident, suspected foul play, or a public accident, there’s often no report to be had. But insurers may still claim that the absence of a police report “prevents claim processing”—a tactic that should be challenged if it results in unreasonable delay.
Don’t Let Document Demands Be Used Against You
Life insurance companies are required by law to inform beneficiaries about missing documents and give them an opportunity to submit those records. They are not allowed to leave a claim in limbo indefinitely while waiting on paperwork, especially when the requested documents may not exist or are not legally necessary to make a decision.
If your insurer says your claim cannot be processed due to a missing toxicology report, autopsy report, or police report, it’s time to ask questions. When was the report requested? Is the report legally required under the policy terms? Was the death outside the contestability period? Is there other sufficient documentation, such as the death certificate, that proves cause of death?
If the insurer cannot provide satisfactory answers—or if you suspect they’re stalling to avoid paying—you should consult with a life insurance attorney immediately.
Why Legal Help Can Make All the Difference
Experienced life insurance attorneys understand how insurers operate. They know which document requests are legitimate and which ones are used to stall. More importantly, they know how to push back. A skilled lawyer can:
Demand that the insurer cite specific policy language requiring each document
Ensure the insurer complies with state deadlines for claim determinations
Help you gather the right documentation, if needed, to move the claim forward
File a lawsuit for wrongful denial or delay if the insurer refuses to act in good faith
Final Thought: You Have the Right to Challenge Insurance Company Excuses
Insurance companies hope that beneficiaries will accept a denial or delay without pushing back. But you don’t have to go through this alone. If you’re being told your life insurance claim can’t be paid due to missing documents—or if you’ve already received a denial letter—contact us today. With more than two decades of experience handling life insurance disputes, our legal team is here to hold insurers accountable and fight for the payout you deserve.