Life Insurance Lawyer Montana
"Life Insurance Lawyers Serving Montana: The Lassen Law Firm" Life insurance claims in Montana can be difficult to navigate, especially when facing denied benefits or delayed payouts. At The Lassen Law Firm, we proudly assist individuals and families across the Treasure State in securing the life insurance benefits they deserve. Whether you’re in Billings, Missoula, Bozeman, Great Falls, or anywhere else in Montana, we’re here to provide expert legal guidance and dedicated support.
With a nationwide presence, including Montana, our life insurance attorneys have recovered over $750 million in policies for our clients. At The Lassen Law Firm, we are committed to protecting your rights with personalized attention and relentless advocacy.
One reason for life insurance claim denial that often surprises beneficiaries in Montana is the issue of “lack of insurable interest.” While this issue may not come up often, it can be a significant obstacle for certain individuals. An insurable interest is a legal requirement that the person purchasing life insurance must have a financial or emotional interest in the life of the insured. Typically, this means that the beneficiary of the policy must have a close relationship with the policyholder, such as a spouse, child, or business partner. However, situations may arise where the beneficiary is someone without a clear insurable interest. For example, a distant relative or an unrelated individual might be named as the beneficiary. If the insurer believes that there was no legitimate reason for the beneficiary to hold an insurable interest in the policyholder's life, they may deny the claim. Insurers like AIG, Transamerica, and New York Life often scrutinize this aspect when determining whether to pay out a claim, and any perceived lack of insurable interest can result in a denial.
Another potential reason for life insurance denial in Montana is the “non-disclosure of hazardous occupation” clause. Some life insurance companies, including companies like Lincoln Heritage and Mutual of Omaha, have specific clauses in their policies regarding certain high-risk occupations. If a policyholder works in a job that the insurer deems hazardous—such as construction work, mining, or jobs involving heavy machinery—the policyholder is typically required to disclose this information when applying for coverage. Failure to accurately disclose such details can lead to the policy being voided or the insurer refusing to pay out the death benefit. If the insured passes away as a result of an accident related to their occupation and the insurer finds that they failed to disclose their occupation on the application, companies such as Reliastar and Prudential may use this as grounds to deny the claim. In some instances, the insurer may argue that had the correct occupation been disclosed, the policy would have been issued with higher premiums or with an exclusion for certain types of accidents.
Another, perhaps more surprising reason for a claim denial in Montana involves “misstatements regarding medical history” or “health exclusions.” If a policyholder failed to disclose pre-existing medical conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, or mental health disorders, the insurer may contest the claim. This is particularly relevant with companies like MetLife, USAA, and Banner Life, where accurate health information is a key factor in determining premiums and coverage terms. Insurers may assert that if they had known about the pre-existing condition at the time of underwriting, they would have issued a policy with exclusions or higher premiums. Even if the death was unrelated to the disclosed condition, insurers may use this misrepresentation as a basis to deny the claim, especially within the contestability period, which typically lasts for the first two years of the policy.
Additionally, the insurer may invoke the “missing documentation” clause as a reason to deny a claim. In these cases, the beneficiary might provide the necessary paperwork but forget or fail to submit required documentation, such as a death certificate, proof of identity, or specific medical records. Life insurance companies like Allianz, Globe Life, and Reliance Standard may reject the claim if these documents are not submitted in a timely manner or if the documents are incomplete. In Montana, insurers may also have stricter requirements about how claims must be filed. In some cases, beneficiaries may not fully understand the documentation requirements or the deadlines involved, and as a result, the insurer may deny the claim based on technicalities.
One factor that may be overlooked by beneficiaries in Montana is the importance of understanding the terms of the “suicide exclusion.” While many people are aware of this provision, they may not fully comprehend how it applies in practice. For example, if a policyholder dies by suicide within the first two years of the policy’s issuance, many insurers, including companies like Transamerica, Lincoln Benefit Life, and Mass Mutual, will invoke the suicide exclusion to deny the claim. However, if the insured took their life after the contestability period had expired, the insurer may still investigate the circumstances surrounding the death. If they find any indication that the insured had been receiving psychiatric treatment or had a history of mental illness that was not disclosed, the claim could be denied. In some instances, insurers may argue that suicide was the result of a pre-existing mental condition that the insured failed to disclose during the application process.
Life insurance claims in Montana can also be complicated when there is a dispute about the named beneficiary. Beneficiary disputes arise when multiple people claim the death benefit, such as in situations where the policyholder had multiple marriages or children from different relationships. Disagreements can happen when the insured neglected to update their beneficiary designation, leaving out current spouses, children, or other relatives. For instance, if the policyholder did not update their beneficiary after a divorce, the ex-spouse may still be listed as the beneficiary. Companies like Guardian, Ohio National, and American National may find themselves caught in the middle of such disputes, which can lead to delays in the payout process. These disputes are often challenging to resolve without legal intervention, and beneficiaries may need to hire attorneys to help sort out who is entitled to the death benefit.
In cases where multiple people claim the death benefit, insurers might file a life insurance interpleader lawsuit to avoid liability. This legal process allows the insurer to deposit the death benefit into the court’s registry and ask a judge to decide who should receive the payout. Insurers like Reliastar, Symetra, and Foresters may use this procedure when they cannot determine the rightful beneficiary, leaving it up to the court to make the final decision. This lawsuit is particularly common when the insurer receives conflicting claims from family members or business partners and is uncertain who should rightfully receive the proceeds. While the legal system determines the outcome, the beneficiaries may experience significant delays in receiving the payout, which can further complicate the grieving process.
A common scenario in Montana involves the unfortunate situation in which a beneficiary is named, but due to a failure to properly update the beneficiary designation after significant life events (such as divorce or remarriage), a claim can be delayed or even denied. This is especially problematic when the policyholder passed away suddenly, and the beneficiary’s claim is contested because the deceased did not keep their beneficiary information up to date. Insurers like MetLife, Prudential, and Nationwide have processes in place to handle these disputes, but the waiting game can be excruciating for the individuals involved.
Questions about life insurance claims in Montana
What do I do if my life insurance claim in Montana was denied?
You need to a top Montana life insurance lawyer to represent you.
What do I do If I was served with a life insurance interpleader lawsuit in Montana?
You don't want to jeopardize your case, so you'll need a top Montana life insurance attorney for representation.
What do I do if I have a life insurance beneficiary dispute in Montana?
Our top Montana life insurance law firm can represent you with respect to your beneficiary dispute.
Why would an accidental death & dismemberment life insurance claim in Montana be denied?
An AD&D life insurance claim is typically denied either because the death was caused by a medical event not an accident, or that there was alcohol involved which is typically an exclusion in the policy.
Can policy lapse be a reason for a denied life insurance claim in Montana?
Yes, but the lapse can be contested by our life insurance attorneys.
Is alleged misrepresentation on a life insurance application a reason for a denied life insurance claim in Montana?
Yes, but our life law firm can dispute the misrepresentation.
Can an alcohol exclusion be a reason for a denied life insurance claim in Montana?
Yes, but there are ways a life insurance lawyer can dispute this.
What do I do about a bad faith ERISA life insurance denial of death benefits in Montana?
As you only have one appeal, best to have our lawyers resolve it.
What should I do about a life insurance contestability period claim denial in Montana?
You should always get legal representation as any denial can be contested.
What do I do if I get a denial letter for my life insurance claim stating it was denied due to Montana state law?
There are many exceptions to denials based on Montana state law.
What are the worst life insurance companies in Montana for paying claims?
These Montana life insurance companies deny many claims: Insurance Unlimited in Helena, and Hobson Insurance.
2025 Montana Denied Life Insurance Claims
- Family Heritage coronavirus death denied $103,000.00
- GA life intoxication exclusion won $120,000.00
- Iowa Farm COVID-19 death denial $85,000.00
- Reliastar Life sickness exclusion resolved $22,000.00
- Mutual Trust life felony exclusion $14,000.00
- Navy Mutual beneficiary issue $409,200.00
- Starmount Life wrong age on application $30,000.00
- Berkshire Life alcohol denial won $56,000.00
- Accidental Death & Dismemberment fentanyl $209,000.00
- Triple AAA Life lapse of policy nonpayment $51,000.00
- Security Plan Life competing beneficiaries $24,000.00
- Best Family Life suicide denial accidental shooting $103,000.00
- Zurich American wrong social security number $208,000.00
- Pioneer Security suicide clause problem $212,800.00
- Lincoln Memorial life insurance wouldn't pay $97,000.00
- Globe material misrepresentation application $116,250.00
- West Coast accidental drug overdose $317,830.00
- Denied SGLI claim wife versus girlfriend $401,320.00
- Kentucky Central life claim big delay won $38,000.00
- Colonial dangerous activity exclusion $205,100.00
- AIG accidental death insurance coverage exclusion $512,450.00
- Montana denied life insurance claim $1,259,400.00
- Mass shooting denial life insurance benefits $387,000.00
- Denied FEGLI claim that was resolved $125,000.00
- Transamerica commission of felony exclusion $602,531.00
- SGLI form change of beneficiary dispute $400,000.00
- First National Life shooting death denial $187,900.00
- Monumental coverage lawsuit resolved $290,130.00
- Denied AD&D claim due to exclusions $564,000.00
- American General AD&D claim won $412,760.00
- Denied life insurance claim Montana $821,700.00
- Primerica autoerotic asphyxiation claim $108,000.00
- Accidental Death & Dismemberment won $729,500.00
- Stonebridge contestable period issue $101,430.00
- Montana divorce and life insurance $275,000.00
- Lincoln Heritage spouse and ex-spouse $248,000.00