Life Insurance Lawyer Ohio

"Life Insurance Lawyers Serving Ohio: The Lassen Law Firm" Navigating life insurance claims in Ohio can be complicated, particularly when dealing with denied benefits or bad faith practices. At The Lassen Law Firm, we are dedicated to helping individuals and families across the Buckeye State recover the payouts they deserve. Whether you’re in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, or any other part of Ohio, we bring trusted legal expertise and personalized attention to every case.

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

Life insurance claims in Ohio can sometimes be more challenging than expected, especially when the claim is denied for reasons that are not immediately obvious to the beneficiary. While some common causes for denial, like failure to pay premiums or exclusion of death due to suicide within the first two years of coverage, are well known, there are other, less common reasons that can lead to the rejection of a claim. These reasons often involve specific clauses in the policy, misunderstandings about policy terms, or issues regarding the beneficiary. Companies like American General, AARP, and Lincoln Heritage are among those that have denied claims for some of these less visible reasons, leaving grieving families in difficult situations.

One potential denial reason that may surprise many beneficiaries is the issue of "incorrect beneficiary designation." Insurance companies such as MetLife, Transamerica, and Globe Life may deny a claim if the designated beneficiary on the life insurance policy is outdated or no longer valid. This situation often arises when the policyholder fails to update their beneficiary information after a major life event, like divorce or remarriage. For instance, if a policyholder divorced their spouse but never updated the beneficiary information, the insurer might proceed to pay the death benefit to the ex-spouse instead of the new partner, which could lead to disputes. This becomes a significant issue in Ohio, where state law allows the beneficiary designation to stand unless the policyholder has explicitly updated it in writing. Such misunderstandings could trigger a contentious beneficiary dispute and delay or prevent the proper distribution of the funds.

Another, less well-known reason for a life insurance denial involves the "lack of proper documentation" during the claims process. Even if the death was caused by an event covered by the policy, companies such as Prudential, Reliastar, and USAA have denied claims because the required documents were incomplete or submitted incorrectly. For example, a policyholder might fail to provide the official death certificate or the insurer might argue that the autopsy report was insufficient to establish the cause of death. Additionally, in Ohio, insurers may require additional forms such as medical records or proof of financial dependency if the deceased was providing primary financial support for a family member. Missing any of these critical documents could lead to a claim denial, causing frustration for beneficiaries who might not fully understand the process.

Complicated legal language within the policy itself can also result in unexpected denials. Life insurance companies like AIG, Farmers, and Symetra sometimes include exclusions or fine print that beneficiaries may overlook when they first purchase the policy. For example, some policies have a clause that excludes coverage if the death results from "illegal activity." In cases where the insured passed away while engaging in illegal activities, such as driving under the influence or participating in a criminal act, the insurer could invoke this clause to deny the claim. These exclusions are often buried in the policy’s terms and are not clearly communicated at the time of purchase. As a result, beneficiaries may feel blindsided when they learn that the claim is denied due to an activity that occurred years before the insured’s death.

Another less common reason for life insurance claim denial is related to "contestability periods" and the insurer’s ability to investigate the cause of death. Companies like Lincoln Financial, Protective, and Guardian may deny a claim if they discover inconsistencies or discrepancies in the information provided during the application process. For example, if a policyholder lied about their smoking status, medical conditions, or occupation (e.g., claiming they were not a smoker when they were), the insurer could claim that the policy was issued under false pretenses. While such misrepresentations are often made unintentionally, they can lead to claim denial, especially if they are uncovered during the contestability period, which is typically the first two years after the policy is issued.

A particularly complex issue arises in "beneficiary disputes," which can significantly delay or even prevent a payout. These disputes occur when multiple parties claim the death benefit or when one beneficiary contests the validity of the designation. Life insurance companies like Erie, MassMutual, and New York Life often face such cases when beneficiaries claim they were the intended recipient of the death benefit, but the deceased had made multiple updates to their policy or left behind conflicting documentation. For instance, an estranged family member might challenge the validity of a beneficiary change made shortly before death, particularly if there is evidence that the insured was under duress or influenced by another party when making the change. These disputes can be particularly complex in Ohio, where a court may need to step in and resolve conflicting claims.

In some situations, life insurance companies may resort to filing an "interpleader lawsuit" to resolve beneficiary disputes. An interpleader lawsuit is a legal tool used by insurance companies when they are unsure who should receive the benefits due to conflicting claims. For example, if two individuals both claim to be the rightful beneficiary of a policy, the insurer may file an interpleader lawsuit to have the court decide who is entitled to the funds. Companies like Nationwide, State Farm, and Banner Life have been involved in interpleader lawsuits, often when beneficiaries present contradictory claims or when there is suspicion of fraud. The lawsuit allows the insurer to deposit the death benefit into the court registry and remove themselves from the conflict, letting a judge determine the rightful recipient. While this is an effective way for insurers to protect themselves legally, it can result in significant delays for the beneficiaries as the legal process unfolds.

It is also important to understand that in Ohio, like in many other states, a "misstatement of age" or "fraudulent application" can lead to claim denials. For example, if the policyholder understated their age at the time of the application, it could affect the payout amount. This might happen if the insurer determines that the policyholder was much older than what was disclosed, making the policy void or altering the death benefit. The same applies if the insured falsified their health status or occupation, as insurers will often conduct investigations to ensure the information provided at the time of application was truthful.

Questions about life insurance claims in Ohio

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 Ohio?

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

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

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 Ohio?

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 Ohio?

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 Ohio state law?

There are many exceptions to denials based on Ohio state law.

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

These Ohio life insurance companies deny many claims: Western & Southern Financial Group in Cincinnati, Ohio National Financial services in Cincinnati, and Nationwide in Columbus Ohio.

2025 Ohio Denied Life Insurance Claims

  • COVID-19 death denial $101,500.00
  • Sec Mutual Life oxycontin rejected $44,000.00
  • Ohio National COVID-19 denied $106,000.00
  • Colonial Life material misrepresentation $12,000.00
  • Freedom Life coronavirus death $44,000.00
  • Ladder Life felony crime exclusion $31,000.00
  • Mutual Security Life wrong age $55,000.00
  • Ethos lapse of policy we won $90,000.00
  • American Family Life insurance exclusions $12,000.00
  • GEICO cancer in the medical records $103,300.00
  • Union Fidelity Life POA change rejected $42,000.00
  • AAA contestable period $55,000.00
  • Accidental Death & Dismemberment drugs $34,000.00
  • Guarantee Security Life intoxication $290,000.00
  • AIG power of attorney change $350,000.00
  • Mass shooting Ohio denied claim $50,000.00
  • Nationwide alleged drunk driving death $218,000.00
  • AARP interpleader lawsuit resolution $104,000.00
  • Genworth self-inflicted injury exclusion $253,000.00
  • Transamerica foreign death claim $538,000.00
  • SGLI competing claimants on policy $400,000.00
  • Ohio denied life insurance claim $1,250,000.00
  • Fidelity material misrepresentation $331,000.00
  • ERISA won the appeal of benefits $162,500.00
  • AIG no beneficiary designation fight $121,000.00
  • State Farm felony exclusion won $228,900.00
  • Denied life insurance claim Ohio $924,000.00
  • Unum delay of policy benefits $326,000.00
  • Ohio divorce and life insurance $400,000.00
  • Liberty Life wife and ex-wife $175,300.00
  • Banner autoerotic asphyxiation death $253,000.00