Life Insurance Lawyer North Dakota

"Life Insurance Lawyers Serving North Dakota: The Lassen Law Firm" Dealing with life insurance claims in North Dakota can be challenging, especially when faced with denied benefits or bad faith insurance practices. At The Lassen Law Firm, we are committed to helping individuals and families across the Peace Garden State recover the payouts they deserve. Whether you’re in Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, or any other community in North Dakota, we provide trusted legal expertise and personalized support.

As experienced life insurance attorneys handling cases nationwide, including North Dakota, we’ve successfully recovered over $750 million in policies for our clients. At The Lassen Law Firm, we combine legal expertise, dedication, and compassionate advocacy to fight for justice and deliver exceptional results.

Life insurance claims in North Dakota can be a complicated and frustrating process for beneficiaries when they are denied. While it’s common knowledge that missed premiums, fraudulent applications, or causes of death excluded from the policy can lead to denials, there are less common reasons that could cause a claim to be rejected. Insurers such as American General, AARP, and Hartford Life have been known to deny claims for unexpected and lesser-known reasons that often stem from small technicalities, administrative errors, or complex legal complications. In addition, beneficiaries often face disputes over who is entitled to the death benefit, and sometimes insurers are forced to initiate interpleader lawsuits to settle these disputes.

One reason a claim could be denied, although rarely discussed, is the insurer’s use of an "insufficient medical disclosure" defense. Life insurance policies with companies like Reliastar, USAA, or Lincoln Heritage may require full disclosure of medical conditions, and even the slightest omission—whether intentional or accidental—could lead to a denial. For example, if a policyholder fails to mention a recent but undiagnosed medical issue, such as high blood pressure, the insurer may later claim that the policy was voided due to the omission. Even if the undisclosed condition was not directly related to the cause of death, the insurer could argue that the policyholder’s failure to disclose the condition was material, thus invalidating the claim. This can be especially difficult for beneficiaries, who may not realize that the omission was a factor in the claim’s denial until much later in the process.

Another uncommon reason for claim denial is "disputed premium payment history." Companies like MetLife, Symetra, and Globe Life may deny claims if there is confusion regarding whether premiums were paid in full, or if there were issues with how payments were processed. For instance, a policyholder may have believed their premiums were paid automatically through a bank draft, but the insurer could later argue that a payment didn’t clear or wasn’t applied correctly to the account. This often happens if there’s an issue with the account from which premiums were drawn, like a change in bank accounts or insufficient funds. Such cases can be particularly frustrating because the insured may have assumed their policy was active, only to discover posthumously that premiums were not applied as expected, leading to a denial.

In some cases, the insurer may deny the claim due to "a failure to comply with the policy's specific requirements for claims." Companies like AIG, Erie, and Transamerica often have detailed instructions about how to submit a claim, and if the beneficiary doesn’t follow these instructions precisely, they could be denied benefits. For instance, if a beneficiary fails to provide all required documentation (e.g., proof of death, a medical examiner’s report, or an autopsy), or submits it in the wrong format or by the wrong deadline, the insurer may argue that the claim is incomplete or invalid. Although this seems like a minor administrative issue, it can lead to substantial delays or outright rejection if the insurer doesn’t believe the requirements have been met.

Another issue that’s less commonly recognized is the insurer’s use of a "criminal activity exclusion" clause. Insurers such as Lincoln Financial, Prudential, and Zurich may have clauses that exclude coverage if the policyholder’s death was the result of a criminal act, either as a perpetrator or a victim. For example, if a policyholder was killed during a robbery attempt, or if they were involved in illegal activity at the time of their death, the insurer may use this clause to deny the claim. While this is a rare reason for denial, it can be particularly damaging when it applies. Even when the insured's death is accidental or unrelated to criminal activity, insurers might argue that the death falls under a specific exclusion, which often leads to lengthy investigations and disputes.

Perhaps one of the most complicated reasons for a life insurance claim denial involves "beneficiary disputes." In North Dakota, as elsewhere, disputes over who is entitled to the life insurance benefits can lead to long delays and even lawsuits. Beneficiaries may disagree on the rightful recipient of the death benefit, which could stem from previous changes to beneficiary designations, conflicting wills, or misunderstandings about the policyholder’s intentions. For example, if the deceased had designated one beneficiary but later changed it without updating the documents properly, another potential beneficiary may challenge the change. In such cases, insurance companies such as Guardian, Aetna, or Foresters may find themselves in the middle of a dispute, unsure of who to pay. To resolve these issues, insurers may file an interpleader lawsuit, essentially asking the court to decide who should receive the death benefit.

An interpleader lawsuit is particularly relevant in cases where the beneficiary designation is contested by multiple parties. For example, if a policyholder initially named their spouse as the beneficiary, but later named a child as the beneficiary, and the spouse disputes the change, the insurance company might refuse to pay either party. Instead, they would file an interpleader lawsuit, asking the court to resolve the dispute. This legal process allows the insurer to deposit the death benefit into the court registry and let the judge decide which claimant is legally entitled to the funds. While the insurer is protected from legal liability in this situation, the beneficiaries may experience a significant delay in receiving the payout, sometimes for months or even years, depending on the complexity of the case.

The complexity of these interpleader lawsuits increases when one of the beneficiaries has a compelling legal argument, such as a claim based on undue influence, duress, or fraud. These legal arguments can create even more uncertainty and may require in-depth legal investigations. For example, if a beneficiary can prove that they were coerced into changing the beneficiary designation or that the deceased was mentally incapable at the time the change was made, the court might rule in their favor. Such cases often involve emotional and financial strain for the individuals involved, and insurers like Allianz, Nationwide, and Americo may find themselves stuck in a legal battle with no clear end in sight.

An uncommon but important reason for claim denial is related to "improper changes to the policy." If a policyholder makes changes to their coverage without adhering to the proper procedures, the insurer may invalidate the policy or reduce the benefit payout. For instance, if someone increases their coverage without informing the insurer of any changes in health or lifestyle, the insurer may argue that the new policy was issued based on inaccurate information. This can lead to a partial payout or, in extreme cases, a full denial of the claim. Companies such as Nationwide, Liberty National, and MassMutual have been known to deny claims based on this technicality, which often catches beneficiaries off guard.

Questions about life insurance claims in North Dakota

What do I do if my life insurance claim in ND was denied?

You need to a top ND life insurance lawyer to represent you.

What do I do If I was served with a life insurance interpleader lawsuit in ND?

You don't want to jeopardize your case, so you'll need a top ND life insurance attorney for representation.

What do I do if I have a life insurance beneficiary dispute in North Dakota?

Our top North Dakota life insurance law firm can represent you with respect to your beneficiary dispute.

Why would an accidental death & dismemberment life insurance claim in North Dakota 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 North Dakota?

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 North Dakota?

Yes, but our life law firm can dispute the misrepresentation.

Can an alcohol exclusion be a reason for a denied life insurance claim in North Dakota?

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 North Dakota?

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 North Dakota?

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 North Dakota state law?

There are many exceptions to denials based on North Dakota state law.

What are the worst life insurance companies in North Dakota for paying claims?

These North Dakota life insurance companies deny many claims: Dakota Capital Life Insurance in Bismarck, and New York Life in Harvey ND.

2025 North Dakota Denied Life Insurance Claims

Nationwide coronavirus death denied $202,000.00
Bestow Life chronic illness exclusion $56,000.00
MassMutual POA beneficiary change $104,000.00
Country Financial Life lapse of policy $30,000.00
Globe Life COVID-19 death denial $107,000.00
Accidental Death & Dismemberment Alcohol $938,000.00
CMFG Life material misrepresentation $58,000.00
Ladder Life intoxication exclusion won $75,000.00
RiverSource lapsed the policy rejection $104,000.00
Army Life change of beneficiary form $402,145.00
Wilton Life cancer in the medical records $60,000.00
OneAmerica Life suicide exclusion hanging $110,000.00
Mass shooting North Dakota exclusion $205,000.00

Globe misrepresentation application $102,400.00
American General felony exclusion $416,000.00
Banner prescription drug exclusion denial $263,000.00
Prudential interpleader lawsuit beneficiaries $477,000.00
North Dakota denied life insurance claim $1,118,000.00
AIG accidental death and dismemberment $427,000.00
SGLI beneficiary change form issue $400,000.00
Denied life insurance claim North Dakota $458,000.00
Gerber autoerotic asphyxiation death $219,000.00
ERISA insufficient documents supporting claim $143,000.00
North Dakota divorce and life insurance $269,000.00
Transamerica bad faith life insurance claim $150,000.00
North Dakota denied AD&D claim $755,300.00