One of the primary reasons insurers deny claims in cases of death abroad is the difficulty in verifying official proof of death. In the United States and many developed nations, death certificates are standardized, making it easy for insurers to authenticate the information. However, in some countries, obtaining a verifiable death certificate can be a challenge. Some nations may not maintain digitized records, while others may lack reliable government agencies to confirm identity and cause of death. If the insurer cannot validate the documents provided, they may refuse to process the claim until additional proof is obtained. Our top life insurance lawyers handle many foreign death cases and we get our clients paid. We frequently handle life insurance claims from: MetLife; Globe; Mutual of Omaha; Prudential; John Hancock; and more.
Another common issue arises when deaths occur in remote or politically unstable areas. If a policyholder dies in a location with ongoing war, civil unrest, or natural disasters, obtaining formal death records may be nearly impossible. In some cases, local authorities might issue handwritten or unofficial documents that are not recognized by insurers. Additionally, if a body is never recovered such as in cases of drownings, kidnappings, or disappearances insurers may be unwilling to pay out a claim until a legal presumption of death is established, which can take years. Insurance companies may deny the claim arguing that the death cannot be conclusively proven. Fraud concerns also contribute to claim denials when a policyholder dies overseas. Some individuals have faked their deaths in foreign countries, particularly in regions where identity verification is lax or where bribery can lead to the issuance of fraudulent death certificates. Insurers may subject foreign death claims to heightened scrutiny, requiring additional documentation, third-party investigations, or even exhumation of remains to confirm identity. If any inconsistencies arise in the paperwork, insurers may delay or deny the claim altogether, leaving beneficiaries burdened with proving the validity of the death. The top life insurance lawyers at our firm can get these issues resolved, and get your claim paid. Life insurance companies we have fought include: Penn Mutual; Nationwide; Pacific Life; Globe; Liberty Mutual; Mass Mutual; and more.
Some policies exclude payouts if the insured traveled to a country under U.S. State Department travel advisories. If the insured person failed to disclose frequent international travel at the time of purchasing the policy, insurers might argue that they misrepresented their lifestyle, leading to claim denial under misrepresentation clauses. Administrative errors and missing information also cause problems for beneficiaries. If a policyholder had dual citizenship or used different names in various official documents, insurers might struggle to match the death records with the insurance policy. Some countries do not use standardized identification systems, making it easier for errors in birth dates, name spellings, or passport numbers to creep into official records. A simple discrepancy can cause lengthy delays and denials. Luckily, our top life insurance law firm is here to help.